Intraventricular nerve growth factor administration prevents lesion-induced loss of septal cholinergic neurons in aging rats.
In young adult rats transection of the fimbria results in loss of cholinergic cell bodies in the septum and this lesion-induced loss is prevented by intraventricular administration of NGF. The present study examined whether NGF administration is equally effective in aging animals. Eighteen-month-old rats received fimbrial transections and were given intraventricular injections of NGF during four weeks. Septal cholinergic neurons were then visualized using NGF receptor immunohistochemistry, which represents a reliable marker for cholinergic neurons in the septal area. The fimbrial transections reduced the number of septal NGF receptor-positive cells to a similar extent as in young animals. NGF treatment of aging rats protected these cells as effectively as in young adult rats.
Montero
C N
CN
Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089.
Hefti
F
F
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors