| Research Abstract |
Neurotrophin (NGF,BDNF,NT-3, GDNF) mRNA and their ceceptor (p75NGFR,trkA,trkB,and trkC) mRNA expressions in the neural tissues (brain, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion, sympathetic ganglion, spinal nerve root, peripheral nerve trunk) and general visceral tissues (kidney, heart, spleen, liver, testis, muscle and intestine) from normal human adults and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was assessed by the quantitative RT-PCR.In the normal subjects, NGF,BDNF,trkA and trkB mRNAs were expressed mainly in the neural tissues, but NT-3 and trkC mRNAs were expressed through more wide ranged tissues including general visceral organs. GDNF mRNA was rather exclusively expressed in the muscle and spinal cord. In the tissues from the ALS patients, GDNF mRNA levels were increased in the spinal cord and decreased in muscles.
|
