SURVIVAL FACTORS REQUIRED BY VISUAL SYSTEM NEURONS

视觉系统所需的生存因素 神经元。很少有信息可以用来解释 需要特定的细胞和分子相互作用 大脑和脊髓的发育。的主要目标是 建议的研究是为了确定特定的神经营养 已确定的神经元组生存所需的分子 在发展中的脊椎动物视觉系统中。这些研究将 探讨脑源性神经营养因子的作用 脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)，一种最近从大脑中分离出来的罕见蛋白质。它是 能够支持特定神经元组的存活 体外培养，包括大鼠视网膜神经节细胞。实验将测试 脑源性神经营养因子是靶源性生存分子的假说 通常是视网膜神经节细胞在危重期间所需要的 发展阶段。BDNF的影响将被调查 利用体外分离的视网膜神经节细胞以及在 哪些胚胎在正常情况下使用该因子治疗 视觉系统的发展。 此外，该项目将侧重于第二个推定的 神经营养因子也来自大脑。的能力 将研究支持神经元存活的纯化因子 从视网膜、上丘分离出已鉴定的细胞 和视觉皮质。 被确认为重要生理分子的生存分子 发展CNS的要求也可能起到 在成熟的功能，可塑性，再生， 中枢神经系统组织的移植和老化。建议数 对决定分子事件的研究 视觉系统神经元的发育也可能形成基础和 为其他地区的类似研究提供分子工具 中枢神经系统。

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.