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The Role of Neurotrophins in the Central Nervous System: Significance for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

  • Chapter
Treatment of Dementias

Part of the book series: Advances in Behavioral Biology ((ABBI,volume 40))

Abstract

The neurotrophins represent a family of polypeptide growth factors which show a high degree of homology with nerve growth factor (NGF). Recent investigations by various research groups have resulted in the isolation, purification and cloning of three novel neurotrophins:brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4). The present review is intended to provide a brief overview of the principal characteristics and roles of the neurotrophins and their receptors in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). The neurotrophin family of growth factors may prove to be of considerable importance in the future therapy of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, University Park MC-0191, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-0191, USA

    Paul A. Lapchak, Dalia M. Araujo, Millicent M. Dugich-Djordjevic & Franz Hefti

  2. Dept. Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92717, USA

    Paul A. Lapchak, Dalia M. Araujo, Millicent M. Dugich-Djordjevic & Franz Hefti

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  1. Paul A. Lapchak
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  2. Dalia M. Araujo
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  3. Millicent M. Dugich-Djordjevic
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  4. Franz Hefti
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA

    Edwin M. Meyer , James W. Simpkins  & Fulton T. Crews ,  & 

  2. Taiho Pharmaceutical Company, Tokushima, Japan

    Jyunji Yamamoto

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Lapchak, P.A., Araujo, D.M., Dugich-Djordjevic, M.M., Hefti, F. (1992). The Role of Neurotrophins in the Central Nervous System: Significance for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases. In: Meyer, E.M., Simpkins, J.W., Yamamoto, J., Crews, F.T. (eds) Treatment of Dementias. Advances in Behavioral Biology, vol 40. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3432-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3432-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6518-1

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