Neurotrophins and Neurotrophin Deprivation as a Stimulus for Retinal Cell Death

NEUROTROPHINS AND NEUROTROPHIN DEPRIVATION AS A STIMULUS FOR RETINAL CELL DEATH 

The continued availability of adequate trophic support appears to be crucial not only for the development of nerve cells and their interconnecting circuitry, but also for the maintenance of neurons and their synapses in the adult (31). There is considerable evidence that diffusible, target-derived trophic factors play important roles in the development of specific retinal cell types. In particular, the neurotrophins [nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT)-3 and NT-4/5] have received considerable attention for their potential roles in both developing and adult nervous systems (66,67). 

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