Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease☆

Parkinson＇s disease （PD） is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative central nervous system disease which occurs in the substantia nigra-corpus striatum system. The main pathological feature of PD is selective dopaminergic neuronal loss with distinctive Lewy bodies in populations of surviving dopaminergic neurons. In the clinical and neuropathological diagnosis of PD, brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression in the substantia nigra pars compacta is reduced by 70%, and surviving dopaminergic neurons in the PD substantia nigra pars compacta express less brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） mRNA （20%） than their normal counterparts. In recent years, knowledge surrounding the relationship between neurotrophic factors and PD has increased, and detailed pathogenesis of the role of neurotrophic factors in PD becomes more important.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson＇s disease

brain-derived neurotrophic factor dopaminergic neuron Parkinson＇s disease