title: Nerve growth factor promotes olfactory axonal elongation.
abstract: An explant culture system was used to test the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on olfactory axonal elongation. Statistical analysis showed that exogenously applied NGF (50 ng/ml) significantly enhanced olfactory neurite elongation from E14 rat olfactory epithelial explants (p = 0.025). Immunostaining showed that the neurites expressed active TrkA receptors and that S-100-positive ensheathing cells were also present. In a separate experiment, immunoassay confirmed that following a growth period of 72 h, E14 presumptive olfactory bulb expressed and secreted NGF into the culture medium. The results indicate that during ontogeny, the olfactory bulb secretes NGF which binds to olfactory axons and facilitates their elongation.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia 7001.
authors.forename: Lee V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Adrian K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Meng Inn
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Chuah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D020932:Nerve Growth Factor