Neurotrophic Factors

1 Biological Roles of Neurotrophins.- A. Introduction.- B. Neurotrophins in Different Species.- C. Trophic Roles of Neurotrophins in the Peripheral Nervous System.- D. Trophic Roles of Neurotrophins in the Central Nervous System.- E. Synaptic Transmission.- F. Modulation of Transcription of Neurotrophin Genes.- G. Regressive Events and Neurotrophins.- H. Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.- 2 Molecular Anatomy of Neurotrophic Factors.- A. Multi-Component Receptors, Specificity and Cross-Talk.- B. Insights into Neurotrophic-Factor Function from Structural Analyses.- C. Electrostatic Forces and the Interaction of Neurotrophic Factors with Their Receptors.- D. Site-Directed Mutagenesis and Structure-Activity Relationships.- E. Ligands with Altered Receptor-Binding Specificity Offer New Insights into Neurotrophic Factor Function.- F. Conclusions.- References.- 3 Neurotrophin Treatment of Peripheral Sensory Neuropathies.- Abbreviations.- A. Introduction.- B. Organization of the Peripheral Nervous System.- C. Role of NGF in PNS Development.- D. Role of NGF in the Adult PNS.- E. NGF Receptors.- F. The Role of Neurotrophins in the Pathogenesis of Peripheral Sensory Neuropathies.- G. Clinical Peripheral Sensory Neuropathies: Diabetic Polyneuropathy.- H. Trial Design Considerations for the Study of Peripheral Sensory Neuropathies.- I. Clinical Studies of Nerve Growth Factor.- J. Interpretation of Clinical-Trial Results.- K. Conclusions.- References.- 4 Neurotrophic Factors and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.- A. Introduction.- References.- 5 Neuropharmacology of Insulin-Like Growth Factors.- Abbreviations.- A. Introduction.- B. Background.- C. Neurotrophic Relationships.- D. Neurological Disorders Targeted for IGF Therapy.- E. Pharmacological Considerations.- F. ConcludingComments.- References.- 6 Neurotrophic Factors in Peripheral Nerve Injury and Regeneration.- A. Introduction.- B. Causes of Peripheral Nerve Damage.- C. Symptoms and Pathophysiology of Peripheral-Nerve Damage.- D. Current Approaches to Therapy.- E. Methods for the Study of Peripheral Nerve Damage in Laboratory Animals.- F. Endpoints Used to Assess Peripheral Nerve Regeneration In Vivo.- G. Beneficial Effects of Neurotrophic Agents in Animal Models of Neuropathy.- H. Drug-Development Issues.- I. Clinical Experience with Neurotrophic Factors.- J. Conclusions and Future Directions.- References.- 7 Nerve Growth Factor Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease: The Experience of the First Attempt at Intracerebral Neurotrophic Factor Therapy.- A. Introduction.- B. Nerve Growth Factor as a Therapeutic Agent to Counteract Cholinergic Neuron Degeneration.- C. Neurotrophic Factors for Non-Cholinergic Neurons Affected by the Disease.- D. Relationship to Alzheimer's Disease Pathology.- E. Conclusions.- References.- 8 Neurotrophic Roles of GDNF and Related Factors.- A. Introduction.- B. Molecular Structure of GDNF and Related Molecules.- C. Receptors and Signal Transduction of GDNF and Neurturin.- D. Distribution of GDNF, Neurturin and Their Receptors.- E. Functions of GNDF and Neurturin in the Nervous System As Revealed In Vitro and In Vivo.- F. Developmental Roles of GDNF, Neurturin and Their Receptors As Revealed by Gene Targeting.- G. Perspectives.- References.- 9 Role of Neurotrophic Factors in Cerebral Ischemia.- A. Neurotrophic Factors, Their Receptors and Their Expression in the Central Nervous System (CNS).- B. Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury Regulates the Expression of Neurotrophic Factors and Their Receptors in the Central Nervous System.- C. Specific Growth Factors Can AttenuateMorphological and Functional Damage Caused by Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury.- D. Therapeutic Potential of Neurotrophic Factors in Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury.- References.- 10 Strategies for Administering Neurotrophic Faetors to the Central Nervous System.- Abbreviations.- A. Introduction.- B. Administration of NFs to the Central Nervous System.- C. Delivery Methods.- D. Conclusion.- References.- 11 Neurotrophic Factor Mimetics.- A. Introduction.- B. Direct and Indirect Receptor Ligands.- C. Regulators of Neurotrophic Factor Synthesis or Release.- D. Examples of Growth Hormone Secretagogues.- E. Conclusions.- References.