Differential neurotrophin levels in cerebrospinal fluid and their changes during development in newborn rat

Cerebrospinal fluid concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-deriv ed neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) was measured in no rmal developing rat from birth to postnatal day (PND) 21 by enzyme-linked i mmunosorbent assay. NGF levels were significantly higher than those of BDNF and NT-3 from PND 1-21. NGF levels decreased from PND 1-3 to PND 9. At PND 15 and 17, NGF levels peaked a second time and rapidly decreased to PND 21 . BDNF peaked at PND 13-15, while NT-3 levels peaked at PND 7-9. Each of th e three neurotrophins has its own characteristic pattern in changes in cere brospinal fluid levels. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.