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Neurotrophic Support of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons

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Development and Engineering of Dopamine Neurons

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 651))

Abstract

In this chapter we review work on neurotrophic factors for midbrain dopaminergic neurons mainly from the past decade, with a focus on neurotrophins and fibroblast growth factors. We summarize data obtained from animal models of Parkinson’s disease, review analyses of neurotrophin, neurotrophin receptor and FGF-2 knockout mice and put these into context with data obtained from patients with Parkinson’s disease and from postmortem studies. We provide a brief overview on several other factors (EGF, TGF-α, IGF, CNTF, PDGF, interleukins) and their capacity to promote survival and protect lesioned DAergic neurons. TGF-βs are reviewed in a separate chapter (Roussa et al, this volume).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307 D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Oliver von Bohlen & Klaus Unsicker

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  1. Oliver von Bohlen
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  2. Klaus Unsicker
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Correspondence to Oliver von Bohlen .

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  1. Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    R. Jeroen Pasterkamp PhD , Marten P. Smidt PhD  & J. Peter H. Burbach PhD ,  & 

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von Bohlen, O., Unsicker, K. (2009). Neurotrophic Support of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons. In: Pasterkamp, R.J., Smidt, M.P., Burbach, J.P.H. (eds) Development and Engineering of Dopamine Neurons. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 651. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0322-8_7

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