[Nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR)-like immunoreactivity in the perineurial cells of the adult rat peripheral nerves: normal appearance and response to nerve section].
The expression of the nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR)-like immunoreactivity in the perineurial cells of normal rat sensory and sympathetic nerves and after surgical severance was analyzed using a specific anti-rat NGFR monoclonal antibody (192-IgG). The perineurial cells as well as axonal endings showed NGFR-like immunoreactivity in the terminal region of normal nerves and the immunoreactivity in the terminal perineurial cells was enhanced after nerve severance. In the nerve trunk region, no cellular elements exhibited NGFR-like immunoreactivity in normal rats, but immunoreactivity was induced in the innermost perineurial cells and all Schwann cells in portions distal to the severance. These findings suggest that the perineurial cells function to provide NGF for intact and regenerating axons by binding NGF to NGFR on the perineurial cell surface.
Yamamoto
M
M
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Iseki
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D003714:Denervation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor