Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in the development and maintenance of a subset of dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons. We administered high-dose exogenous recombinant human GDNF (rhGDNF) daily to adult rats to examine its effect on unmyelinated axon-Schwann cell units in intact peripheral nerves. In rhGDNF-treated animals, there was a dramatic proliferation in the Schwann cells of unmyelinated fibers, which resulted in the segregation of many unmyelinated axons into a 1:1 relationship with Schwann cells and myelination of normally unmyelinated small axons. This study demonstrates that the administration of high doses of a growth factor to adult rats can change the phenotype of nerve fibers from unmyelinated to myelinated.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 561-567 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroscience |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 15 2003 |
Keywords
- GDNF
- Myelination
- Remak bundles
- Schwann cell
- Sciatic nerve
- Unmyelinated axon
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)