Differential actions of neurotrophic factors on lesion-induced damage of the serotonergic neurons projecting to the hippocampus.
The changes induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) and by GM1-ganglioside administration on serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and tryptophan content and on choline acetyltransferase activity, were studied in the central nervous system of rats undergoing electrolytic damage of a mesencephalic area, located near the nucleus interpeduncularis. This lesion selectively reduced the content of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the ipsilateral hippocampus. Daily intraperitoneal injection of GM1-ganglioside (30 mg/kg/day for 6-14 days) significantly reduced the injury-induced loss of hippocampal 5-HT and 5-HIAA content. On the contrary NGF, administered at a dose (10 micrograms/rat i.c.v. twice a week for 2 weeks) which was able to increase, in the same animals, the cortical choline acetyltransferase activity, failed to affect the lesion-induced reduction of 5-HT and of 5-HIAA in the hippocampus.
Lombardi
G
G
Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy.
Beni
M
M
Carla'
V
V
Toffano
G
G
Moroni
F
F
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012701:Serotonin; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase