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Abstract
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.