Chronic intraventricular infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) rescues some cerebellar Purkinje cells from heredodegeneration

Cerebellar Purkinje cells degenerate in shaker mutant rats. Glia cell line- derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was chronically infused intraventricular ly in an attempt to rescue mutant Purkinje cells from dying. Four weeks of chronic GDNF infusion delayed the degeneration of many but not all Purkinje cells. Surviving Purkinje cells formed spatially related groups interrupte d by other groups of degenerated Purkinje cells. There was a positive corre lation in GDNF-supported Purkinje cell survival and persistence of normal m otor behaviors. (C) 2001 Academic Press.