SURVIVAL FACTORS REQUIRED BY VISUAL SYSTEM NEURONS

视觉系统要求的生存因素 神经元 很少有信息可以说明 特定的细胞和分子相互作用所需的 大脑和脊髓的发育。 的主要目标 建议的研究是确定特定的神经营养 神经元存活所需的分子 脊椎动物视觉系统的发展。 这些研究将 探讨脑源性神经营养因子 脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）是一种最近从大脑中分离出来的罕见蛋白质。 是 能够支持选择的神经元群体的生存， 体外，包括大鼠视网膜神经节细胞。 实验将测试 BDNF是靶源性生存分子的假设 这是视网膜神经节细胞在关键时期通常需要的 发展时期。 BDNF的作用将被研究 使用体外分离的视网膜神经节细胞以及 哪些胚胎在正常发育期间接受了因子治疗 视觉系统的发展。 此外，该项目将侧重于第二个假定的 神经营养因子也来源于大脑。 的能力 将研究支持神经元存活的纯化因子 用从视网膜、上级丘、 和视觉皮层。 被鉴定为重要的生理活性的存活分子 发展CNS的要求也可能发挥作用， 在成熟的功能，可塑性，再生， 移植和CNS组织老化。 拟议 对决定生物多样性的分子事件的研究 视觉系统神经元的发育也可能形成基础， 为世界其他地区的类似研究提供了分子工具。 CNS。

SURVIVAL FACTORS REQUIRED BY VISUAL SYSTEM NEURONS. Very little information is available to illuminate the specific cellular and molecular interactions required for the development of the brain and spinal cord. The major objective of the proposed studies is to identify the specific neurotrophic molecules required for the survival of identified groups of neurons in the developing vertebrate visual system. These studies will investigate the effects of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a rare protein recently isolated from the brain. It is capable of supporting the survival of select groups of neurons in vitro, including rat retinal ganglion cells. Experiments will test the hypothesis that BDNF is a target-derived survival molecule which is normally required by retinal ganglion cells during critical periods of development. The effects of BDNF will be investigated using retinal ganglion cells isolated in vitro as well as studies in which embryos are treated with the factor during the normal development of the visual system. In addition, this project will focus on a second putative neurotrophic factor also derived from the brain. The ability of purified factors to support neuronal survival will be investigated with identified cells isolated from the retina, superior colliculus and visual cortex. Survival molecules which are identified as important physiological requirements for the development of the CNS may also play an important role in the mature function, plasticity, regeneration, transplantation and aging of CNS tissues. The proposed investigations of the molecular events which determine the development of visual system neurons may also form a basis and provide molecular tools for similar studies in other regions of the CNS.