401. Renal and neuronal abnormalities in mice lacking GDNF.
- Author
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Moore MW, Klein RD, Fariñas I, Sauer H, Armanini M, Phillips H, Reichardt LF, Ryan AM, Carver-Moore K, and Rosenthal A
- Subjects
- Animals, Brain cytology, Brain embryology, Cell Count, Cell Differentiation genetics, Cell Differentiation physiology, Cell Line, Cell Survival, Digestive System innervation, Digestive System Abnormalities, Dopamine metabolism, Gene Targeting, Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, In Situ Hybridization, Kidney abnormalities, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Motor Neurons cytology, Nerve Growth Factors deficiency, Nerve Growth Factors genetics, Nerve Tissue Proteins deficiency, Nerve Tissue Proteins genetics, Neurons metabolism, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Ureter embryology, Digestive System embryology, Kidney embryology, Nerve Growth Factors physiology, Nerve Tissue Proteins physiology, Neurons cytology
- Abstract
Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent survival factor for embryonic midbrain dopaminergic, spinal motor, cranial sensory, sympathetic, and hindbrain noradrenergic neurons, and is available to these cells in vivo. It is therefore considered a physiological trophic factor and a potential therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that at postnatal day 0 (P0), GDNF-deficient mice have deficits in dorsal root ganglion, sympathetic and nodose neurons, but not in hindbrain noradrenergic or midbrain dopaminergic neurons. These mice completely lack the enteric nervous system (ENS), ureters and kidneys. Thus GDNF is important for the development and/or survival of enteric, sympathetic and sensory neurons and the renal system, but is not essential for catecholaminergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Published
- 1996
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