@incollection{ThoenenHughesSendtner1993,
  author    = {Thoenen, Hans and Hughes, Richard A. and Sendtner, Michael},
  title     = {Towards a comprehensive understanding of the trophic support of motoneurons},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-31117},
  publisher      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {1993},
  abstract  = {Motoneurons played an essential role in establishing the concept of target-mediated support of innervating neurons. However, it took several decades until molecules were identined which trophically support motoneurons in vitro and in vivo. The most potent molecule identined so far is ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). It is expressed as a cytosolic molecule in myelinating Schwann cells rather than in skeletal muscle in the postnatal period and therefore does not qualify as a target-derived neurotrophic factor regulating motoneuron survival during embryonic development. However, the inactivation of CNTF by gene targeting experiments results in progressive atrophy and degeneration of motoneurons, demonstrating that CNTF plays an essential role as a maintenance factor for motoneurons postnatally. Secretory molecules which are expressed in skeletal muscle during embryonic development and which support motoneurons in culture and partially also in vivo include members of the NGF gene family (BDNF, NT-3, NT-4/S) , FGF-S, IGF-I, and UF. The evaluation of the physiological importance of these molecules is under investigation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{SendtnerArakawaStoecklietal.1991,
  author    = {Sendtner, Michael and Arakawa, Yoshihiro and St{\"o}ckli, Kurt A. and Kreutzberg, Georg W. and Thoenen, Hans},
  title     = {Effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on motoneuron survival},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-33048},
  year      = {1991},
  abstract  = {We have demonstrated that the extensive degeneration of motoneurons in the rat facial nucleus after transection of the facial nerve in newborn rats can be prevented by local ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) administration. CNTF differs distinctly from known neurotrophic molecules such as NGF, BDNF and NT-3 in both its molecular characteristics (CNTF is a cytosolic rather than a secretory molecule) and its broad spectrum of biological activities. CNTF is expressed selectively by Schwann cells and astrocytes of the peripheral and central nervous system, respectively, but not by target tissues of the great variety of CNTF -responsive neurons. CNTF mRNA is not detectable by Northern blot or PCR analysis during embryonic development and immediately after birth. However, during the second post-natal week, a more than 30-fold increase in CNTF mRNA and pro tein occurs in the sciatic nerve. Since the period of low CNTF levels in peripheral nerves coincides with that of high vulnerability of motoneurons (i.e. axonallesion results in degeneration of motoneuron cell bodies), insufficient availability of CNTF may be the reason for the rate of lesioninduced cell death of early post-natal motoneurons. Highly enriched embryonic chick motoneurons in culture are supported at survival rates higher than 60\% by CNTF, even in single cell cultures, indicating that CNTF acts directly on motoneurons. In contrast to CNTF, the members of the neurotrophin gene family (NGF, BDNF and NT-3) do not support the survival of motoneurons in culture. However, aFGF and bFGF show distinct survival activities which are additive to those of CNTF, resulting in the survival of virtually all motoneurons cultured in the presence of CNTF and bFGF.},
  language  = {en}
}