Limbic seizures increase neuronal production of messenger RNA for nerve growth factor.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) produced by telencephalic neurons provides critical trophic support for cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. In situ hybridization and nuclease protection analyses demonstrate that limbic seizures dramatically increase the amount of messenger RNA for NGF in the neurons of the hippocampal dentate gyrus within 1 hour of seizure onset and in broadly distributed neocortical and olfactory forebrain neurons some hours later. The increased messenger RNA species is indistinguishable from messenger RNA for transcript B of the beta subunit of NGF from mouse submandibular gland. Thus, the expression of a known growth factor is affected by unusual physiological activity, suggesting one route through which trophic interactions between neurons in adult brain can be modified.
Gall
C M
CM
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Isackson
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D004720:Endonucleases; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures / Q000378:metabolism*; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004720:Endonucleases; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases