Nerve growth factor stimulates growth of cortical pyramidal neurons in young adult rats.
The cytoarchitectonics of pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex of non-lesioned rats can be re-modeled by i.c.v. infusions of nerve growth factor (NGF). 4 months after the application of NGF, the pyramidal neurons in layers III and V of the motor cortex and layer V of the anterior cingulate cortex were analyzed and compared with pyramidal neurons from vehicle-treated rats. NGF-treated brains showed: (1) significant increase in dendritic branching in the basilar fields of the layer V, but not layer III, neurons; and (2) a significant increase in spine density in the terminal, but not proximal, dendritic branches. These findings indicated that, besides its known effects on forebrain cholinergic neurons, NGF produces a very generalized synaptic re-modeling involving the cells responsible for the major output of the cerebral cortex in the intact adult brain.
Kolb
B
B
Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Canada. kolb@hg.uleth.ca
Gorny
G
G
Côte
S
S
Ribeiro-da-Silva
A
A
Cuello
A C
AC
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors