Retinol Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Retinol, including details on vitamin a, uses, wrinkle treatment, anti-aging.

Retinoic acid in the development, regeneration and maintenance of the nervous system.

Maden M

MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, fourth floor New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK. malcolm.maden@kcl.ac.uk

Retinoic acid (RA) is involved in the induction of neural differentiation, motor axon outgrowth and neural patterning. Like other developmental molecules, RA continues to play a role after development has been completed. Elevated RA signalling in the adult triggers axon outgrowth and, consequently, nerve regeneration. RA is also involved in the maintenance of the differentiated state of adult neurons, and disruption of RA signalling in the adult leads to the degeneration of motor neurons (motor neuron disease), the development of Alzheimer's disease and, possibly, the development of Parkinson's disease. The data described here strongly suggest that RA could be used as a therapeutic molecule for the induction of axon regeneration and the treatment of neurodegeneration.

Published 20 September 2007 in Nat Rev Neurosci, 8(10): 755-65.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Retinol Research Today. All Rights Reserved.