Inhalation of low-level formaldehyde enhances nerve growth factor production in the hippocampus of mice.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of low-level formaldehyde (FA) inhalation on the amount of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus of immunized mice were studied.


METHODS
Evaluation of NGF in the hippocampus was performed by ELISA and RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Exposure to 80 and 400 ppb FA significantly increased the brain NGF levels in the immunized mice. Evaluation of the NGF levels in the hippocampus of immunized mice showed that 400 ppb FA significantly increased the NGF content. The RT-PCR evaluation also showed higher concentrations of hippocampal NGF mRNA in the mice exposed to 80 and 400 ppb FA with immunization.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure of immunized mice to low levels of FA significantly increases NGF levels in the hippocampus.
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan. fujimaki@nies.go.jp
Hidekazu
H
Fujimaki
Yoshika
Y
Kurokawa
Masaki
M
Kakeyama
Naoki
N
Kunugita
Yukiko
Y
Fueta
Takaichi
T
Fukuda
Hajime
H
Hori
Keiichi
K
Arashidani
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005557:Formaldehyde; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor