Neurotrophins and brain insults

Epileptic, hypoglycaemic, ischaemic and traumatic insults to the brain induce marked changes of gene expression for the neurotrophins, nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, and their high-affinity receptors, TrkB and TrkC, in cortical and hippocampal neurones. Release of glutamate and influx of Ca2+ are the most important triggering factors. The major hypotheses for the functional effects of the insult-induced neurotrophin changes are protection against neuronal damage and stimulation of sprouting and synaptic reorganization. More insight into the regulation and role of the neurotrophins after brain insults should increase our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in, for example, epileptogenesis and cell death, and could lead to new therapeutic strategies.