Increased levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) protein and mRNA and reactive gliosis following kainic acid injection into the rat striatum.
After excitotoxic lesion of the rat striatum, the time courses of local nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF mRNA contents were investigated using a sensitive immunoassay (ELISA) and reverse transcription coupled to polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR). To investigate a possible correlation of increased NGF expression and excitotoxin-induced reactive gliosis, striata were also analysed by immunohistochemistry with glial markers. We found elevated striatal NGF protein after lesion over the whole observation period. NGF mRNA showed a biphasic increase 10 h and 10 days after lesion, the latter co-inciding with an increased astrogliosis. These results indicate that NGF accumulation after excitotoxin-induced neurodegeneration is partly due to local reactive astrocytes.
Department of Neuropathology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
S
S
Strauss
U
U
Otten
B
B
Joggerst
K
K
Plüss
B
B
Volk
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008845:Microinjections; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D007608:Kainic Acid