title: Effect of nerve growth factor in ethylcholine mustard aziridinium (AF64A)-treated rats: sensitization of cholinergic enzyme activity in the septohippocampal pathway.
abstract: In this study, we examined the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) administration on cholinergic enzyme activity in both normal and ethylcholine mustard aziridinium (AF64A)-treated rats. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase activity were measured in the hippocampus and septum of rats chronically administered NGF (0.36-2.85 micrograms/day) into the lateral ventricle for 14 days. In both normal and AF64A-treated rats, NGF increased cholinergic enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, although NGF increased ChAT activity in normal rats by 147%, it had a greater effect in AF64A-treated rats, increasing ChAT activity as much as 273%. NGF increased acetylcholinesterase activity in normal rats by only 125% but produced a 221% increase in this activity in AF64A-treated rats. These data indicate that AF64A produces an increased sensitivity to NGF in cholinergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Willson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001388:Aziridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000201:enzymology; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012688:Septum Pellucidum / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D001388:Aziridines; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009498:Neurotoxins; C044894:ethylcholine aziridinium; D002794:Choline