Increased expression of the alpha subunit of the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) receptor by rat facial motoneurons after neonatal axotomy and CNTF treatment

R. M. Duberley, I. P. Johnson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Expression by rat motoneurons of mRNAs for the alpha subunit of the ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR alpha), receptor tyrosine kinase-C (trkC), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and galanin was studied by in situ hybridisation, 6d after rat facial nerve transection on postnatal day 1. Similar numbers of motoneurons in both injured and non-injured nuclei hybridised with all probes, despite a reduction in total numbers of motoneurons ipsilaterally. When ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was applied to the proximal nerve, twice as many motoneurons in the injured nucleus hybridised with the CNTFR alpha probe ipsilaterally compared to the non-injured nucleus, while motoneuronal loss was not evident. These results indicate that survival of motoneurons after neonatal axotomy and CNTF treatment is associated with increased CNTF receptor alpha expression.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)188-192
Number of pages5
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume218
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Nov 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Axotomy
  • Ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor
  • In situ hybridisation
  • Neonate

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