Astrocytes from cortex and striatum show differential responses to mitochondrial toxin and BDNF: implications for protection of striatal neurons expressing mutant huntingtin.

Data suggest that cortical and striatal astrocytes respond differently to mitochondrial toxin 3NP and BDNF. Moreover, striatal astrocytes secrete soluble neuroprotective factors in response to BDNF that selectively protect neurons expressing mutant huntingtin implicating that BDNF modulation of striatal astrocyte function has therapeutic potential against neurodegeneration.