The new sideway of CNTF signal transduction pathway

The action of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on intercellular free Ca2 concentrations [Ca2+](i) induced by glutamate (Glu) in primary cultured hi ppocampal neurons were detected with Fura2/AM, a Ca2+-sensitive fluorophore , and the morphological influence of G-protein on it was objected. Glu coul d induce rapid increase of [Ca2+](i) in hippocampal neurons. CNTF had no si gnificant action on [Ca2+](i) in resting hippocampal neurons. However after incubation of CNTF for 5 min, the increase of [Ca2+](i) in hippocampal neu rons rapidly induced by Glu was inhibited. Pretussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G protein could block the action. These results indicate that a new non-gen omic rapid sideway might exist in the upper stream of CNTF signal transduct ion pathway, which was related to Ca2+ signal transduction.