High hopes of a trophic factor

Article Abstract:

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) improves the condition of patients with motor neuron diseases. These diseases, which are characterized by the break down and death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain, include spinal muscular atrophy, familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and X-linked bulbo-spinal-muscular atrophy. M. Sendtner and colleagues used a mouse animal model to test the therapeutic effectiveness of CNTF, which is the first treatment to hold out hope to the victims of these ordinarily fatal diseases.

Abnormalities, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Spinal muscular atrophy

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Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents degeneration of motor neurons in mouse mutant progressive motor neuronopathy

Article Abstract:

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) holds great promise as a therapy for genetically-induced caudo-cranial degeneration of motor neurons. Testing in mice has shown that CNTF significantly diminishes the functional and morphological deterioration brought on by the autosomal recessive mutation that causes motor neuron degeneration. CNTF is effective both in reversing degeneration and in preventing further degeneration.

Research, Nervous system, Nerve degeneration, Neuropharmacology

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Predator diversity dampens trophic cascades

Article Abstract:

Predator diversity can intensify food web involvement as predators may feed on each other or shared prey, the food web complexity weaken the strength of terrestrial trophic complexity. By examining the role of predator diversity, the study highlights the way, the goal of conservation biologists, can reach conflicting conclusions about the importance of biodiversity.

United States, Influence, Environmental aspects, Biological diversity, Biodiversity, Predatory animals, Food chains (Ecology), Food chains

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