Nerve growth factor reverses spatial memory impairments in aged rats.
Aged rats, displaying impairments in spatial learning and memory associated with marked cellular atrophy of forebrain cholinergic neurons, received intracerebroventricular infusions of the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF), or vehicle. During the 4-week infusion period rats receiving NGF showed improved acquisition and retention of spatial memory. With NGF this was accompanied by a significant reduction in cholinergic neuron atrophy in both septum, nucleus basalis and striatum. The cause of learning and memory deficits associated with ageing is not known. In the present paper we show that learning and memory deficits in aged rats can be reversed by NGF.
Fischer
W
W
Department of Medical Cell Research, University of Lund, Sweden.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase