title: NGF-Tf Conjugate Prevents Degeneration of Substantia Nigra Neurons in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: Nerve growth factor(NGF) was purified from Naja naja atra snake venom and conjugated to transferrin(Tf). This conjugate was intravenously injected into a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Both immunohistochemical staining and pathological detection showed that the NGF-Tf conjugate could prevent the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons located in substantia nigra and the cell counts of NGF group were 2 330.0+/-260.3, and those of the MPTP group and the control group were 797.0+/-121.4 and 2 381.0+/-158.0, respectively. In addition, electron microscopic examination revealed significant protection against demyelination and vacuolation in subtantia nigra neurons in contrast to the control group. The i.v. injected NGF-Tf conjugate also reversed the neurodegenerative changes such as karyopyknosis, chromatolysis and intracytoplasmic inclusion in diseased neurons.
authors.affiliation: Snake Venom Research Institute, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. shanl@public.nn.gx.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-Biao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gong-Shan
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Shao-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Sheng-Xi
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Tang