Neurotrophic signals

Phelps CJ (1994) Pituitary hormones as neurotrophic signals anomalous hypophysiotrophic neuron differentiation in hypopituitary dwarf mice. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 206 6-23. 

The failure of the apoptosis process has been reported as a possible cause of autism in some individuals [63, 64], Chemical exposure may shift the tightly regulated balance of neurotrophic signals regulating apoptosis and cause an increase or decrease in the cell numbers of a region of the nervous system. However, the effect of environmental substances on apoptosis in the developing brain has not been studied to a great extent. 

Neurotrophins (NGF brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF neurotrophin-3, NT-3 NT-4 NT-6) are important regulators of neural survival, development, function, and plasticity of the vertebrate nervous system [1]. Neurotrophins generally function as noncovalently associated homodimers. They activate two different classes of receptors, through which signaling pathways can be activated, including those mediated by Ras and members of the cdc42/rac/rho G protein families, MAP kinase, PI-3 kinase, and Jun kinase cascades. 

Yamada, M., Ikeuchi, T., and Hatanaka, H. 1997. The neurotrophic action and signalling of epidermal growth factor. Progress in Neurobiology 51(1), 19-37. 

Specific lipid messengers are cleaved from reservoir phospholipids by phospholipases upon activation by various stimuli. These stimuli include neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, membrane depolarization, ion channel activation and others. Lipid messengers regulate and interact with multiple other signaling cascades, contributing to the development, differentiation, function, protection and repair of the cells of the nervous system. 

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