Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents degeneration of motor neurons in mouse mutant progressive motor neuronopathy

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) holds great promise as a therapy for genetically-induced caudo-cranial degeneration of motor neurons. Testing in mice has shown that CNTF significantly diminishes the functional and morphological deterioration brought on by the autosomal recessive mutation that causes motor neuron degeneration. CNTF is effective both in reversing degeneration and in preventing further degeneration.