A nerve growth factor peptide retards seizure development and inhibits neuronal sprouting in a rat model of epilepsy.
Kindling, an animal model of epilepsy wherein seizures are induced by subcortical electrical stimulation, results in the upregulation of neurotrophin mRNA and protein in the adult rat forebrain and causes mossy fiber sprouting in the hippocampus. Intraventricular infusion of a synthetic peptide mimic of a nerve growth factor domain that interferes with the binding of neurotrophins to their receptors resulted in significant retardation of kindling and inhibition of mossy fiber sprouting. These findings suggest a critical role for neurotrophins in both kindling and kindling-induced synaptic reorganization.
Rashid
K
K
Department of Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Canada.
Van der Zee
C E
CE
Ross
G M
GM
Chapman
C A
CA
Stanisz
J
J
Riopelle
R J
RJ
Racine
R J
RJ
Fahnestock
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012640:Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor