Müller Cells as a Source of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Retina: Noradrenaline Upregulates Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Cultured Rat Müller Cells
- 1 September 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Neurochemical Research
- Vol. 30 (9), 1163-1170
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-005-7936-7
Abstract
Müller cells, the predominant glial cells in the retina, are thought to play important roles in the survival of retinal neurons. Previous studies have demonstrated that Müller cells express brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has a pronounced neurotrophic effect on retinal ganglion cells. In this study, we investigated whether Müller cells express and release BDNF in culture. Reverse transcriptase-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting revealed that Müller cells produce BDNF mRNA and protein. Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, BDNF protein levels in Müller cells and their conditioned medium were quantified, demonstrating that Müller cells produce and release high levels of BDNF. Noradrenaline administration caused an upregulation of BDNF mRNA and protein expression by cultured Müller cells. These results suggest that Müller cells may act as an endogenous source of BDNF in the retina. Furthermore, induction of BDNF expression by adrenergic agonists may provide a therapeutic approach to retinal neurodegenerative disorders.Keywords
This publication has 43 references indexed in Scilit:
- BDNF is Upregulated by Postnatal Development and Visual Experience: Quantitative and Immunohistochemical Analyses of BDNF in the Rat RetinaPublished by Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) ,2003
- Glutamate transporters and retinal excitotoxicityGlia, 2002
- Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Enhances Neuronal Translation by Activating Multiple Initiation ProcessesJournal of Biological Chemistry, 2001
- Biological characterization and optical imaging of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor‐green fluorescent protein suggest an activity‐dependent local release of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in neurites of cultured hippocampal neuronsJournal of Neuroscience Research, 2001
- Immunohistochemical Distribution of Neurotrophins and their Receptors in the Rat Retina and the Effects of Ischemia and Reperfusion*General Pharmacology: The Vascular System, 1998
- Differential expression of three glutamate transporter subtypes in the rat retinaCell and tissue research, 1996
- Physiology of the NeurotrophinsAnnual Review of Neuroscience, 1996
- BDNF Protein Measured by a Novel Enzyme Immunoassay in Normal Brain and after Seizure: Partial Disagreement with mRNA LevelsEuropean Journal of Neuroscience, 1995
- The growth and behaviour of rat retinal Müller cells in vitro 1. An improved method for isolation and cultureExperimental Eye Research, 1990
- Catecholamines increase nerve growth factor mRNA content in both mouse astroglial cells and fibroblast cellsFEBS Letters, 1989