title: Nerve growth factor increases cortical choline acetyltransferase-positive fiber staining without affecting cortical cholinergic neurons.
abstract: Lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) increased the number of neurons in the frontal neocortex staining for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Intracerebroventricular treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF; 10 micrograms per day for 6 weeks) did not further increase this number. NGF increased the size of NBM neurons [Brain Res., 584 (1992) 55-63], but not those in the neocortex. However, NGF increased the area of ChAT-positive fiber staining in the neocortex. These data suggest that NGF enhances cholinergic innervation to the neocortex by affecting residual NBM neurons, rather than cortical cholinergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Thal
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase