Morphogen-induced dendritic growth

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and compositions for maintaining neural pathways in a mammal including: enhancing survival of neurons at risk of dying; inducing cellular repair of damaged neurons and neural pathways; stimulating neurons to maintain their differentiated phenotype; and promoting dendritic outgrowth, including maintaining dendritic arbors and regenerating dendritic architecture. In one embodiment, the invention provides means for stimulating CAM expression in neurons. The invention also provides means for evaluating the status of nerve tissue, including means for detecting and monitoring neuropathies in a mammal. The methods, devices and compositions include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent provided to the mammal in a therapeutically effective concentration. In another embodiment, the invention provides methods and compositions which include a morphogen or morphogen-stimulating agent, and a nerve trophic factor or nerve trophic factor-stimulating agent at concentrations effective for stimulating dendrite outgrowth. The morphogen and the nerve trophic factor can be admixed in combination.

1 . A method for regenerating a neural pathway, the method comprising contacting cells forming said pathway with a morphogen and a nerve trophic factor at concentrations and for times effective for maintaining said pathway.  
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . A method for preserving a neural pathway comprising: 
 contacting neurons forming said pathway with a morphogen and a nerve trophic factor at concentrations and for times effective for preserving said pathway.    
     
     
         13 - 31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . A method for promoting dendrite outgrowth of neural cells, the method comprising administering to a mammal 
 an agent effective for stimulating production of an endogenous morphogen by cells or tissue of said mammal competent to produce said endogenous morphogen; and    a nerve trophic factor.    
     
     
         33 - 47 . (canceled)