Neuroscience

P. Ernfors, J.-P. Merlio, H. Persson, "Cells expressing mRNA for neurotrophins and their receptors during embryonic rat development," European Journal of Neuroscience, 4:1140-58, 1992.

Patrik Ernfors (Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Mass.): "Previous studies by other researchers have shown that neurotrophins can prevent the cell death of partially overlapping, but also specific, sets of neurons in culture. Our study identifies the cells that express mRNA for nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neuro- trophin-4 (NT-4) and their receptors (trkA, trkB, and trkC) during embryonic development of the rat using in situ hybridization. These results have received much attention because we have been able to predict which neurons depend on what neurotrophin for survival in vivo during development. In addition, the results indicate two types of neurotrophic interactions during development. The results support the classical hypothesis of neurotrophic interactions where the neurotrophins act in...