Basal ganglia, cholinergic neurons

Studies (mainly in vitro) illustrate that BDNF promotes the survival of embryonic retina ganglion cells, dopaminergic neurons, as well as cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, embryonic spinal motor neurons and cortical neurons. 

Northern blots and in situ hybridization data showed that BDNF mRNA is mainly present in the brain and suggested a putative trophic effect for neurotrophins not only on PNS neurons but also on intrinsic neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). In fact, both NGF and BDNF were found to support central cholinergic neurons in culture (Martinez et al., 1985 Hefti, 1986 Hartikka and Hefti, 1988 Hatanaka et al., 1988 Alderson et al., 1990 Knusel et al., 1991). However, only BDNF supported chick and rat retinal ganglion cells, dopaminergic neurons of the ventral mesencephalon, and GABAergic neurons of the basal forebrain and striatum (Lindsay et al., 1985 Alderson et al., 1990 Hyman et al., 1991, 1994 Knusel et al., 1991, 1994 Ventimiglia et al., 1995). 

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