DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEUROTROPHINS BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, NEUROTROPHIN-3, AND NEUROTROPHIN-4 5 IN THE POSTNATAL RAT-BRAIN - AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY/
Wj. Friedman et al., DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEUROTROPHINS BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR, NEUROTROPHIN-3, AND NEUROTROPHIN-4 5 IN THE POSTNATAL RAT-BRAIN - AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY/, Neuroscience, 84(1), 1998, pp. 101-114
The neurotrophin family of trophic factors influences survival and fun
ction of neurons in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. C
ritical information regarding physiological function of these factors
may be gained by examining their localization in the brain. Here we re
port the immunocytochemical characterization of antisera directed agai
nst brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophi
n 4/5. These antisera provide important tools to localize the bioactiv
e neurotrophin proteins. Correspondence between protein distribution a
nd previously determined messenger RNA expression was observed in some
brain regions, such as hippocampus and cortex. However, neurotrophin
proteins were also detected in neurons which have no apparent correspo
nding messenger RNA, indicating that the proteins may be transported f
rom the sites of synthesis in certain populations. Immunocytochemical
double-labelling analysis also indicated that a sub-population of neur
otrophin-positive cells were labelled with an astrocyte marker (glial
fibrillary acidic protein) as well, demonstrating that trophic molecul
es are localized to glial cells as well as neurons in vivo. Thus, the
use of antisera specific for individual neurotrophic factors has indic
ated potential cellular sites of action. (C) 1998 IBRO. Published by E
lsevier Science Ltd.