Role of the neurotrophic factors BDNF and NGF in the commitment of pluripotent neural crest cells

Neuron. 1991 Jun;6(6):949-55. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(91)90235-r.

Abstract

Since trophic factors are increasingly recognized as playing a role in some decision-making steps during development, the influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) on the commitment of pluripotent neural crest cells was investigated by in vitro clonal analysis. BDNF caused an increase of up to 21-fold in the number of sensory neuron precursors per colony without a corresponding increase in the total number of cells. By contrast, BDNF treatment caused an equivalent decrease in the number of undifferentiated cells per colony. The data suggest that BDNF, but not NGF, directs pluripotent neural crest cells to differentiate along the primary sensory neuron lineage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Clone Cells
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Lewis X Antigen / analysis
  • Nerve Growth Factors / pharmacology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Neural Crest / cytology*
  • Neural Crest / drug effects
  • Neurons, Afferent / cytology*
  • Neurons, Afferent / drug effects
  • Quail
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Lewis X Antigen
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins