Enhanced aortic nerve growth factor expression and nerve sprouting in rats following gastric perforation.
BACKGROUND
Nerve growth factor (NGF) up-regulation during inflammation has been demonstrated to occur in several different tissues. Herein, the expression of aortic nerve growth factor and its association with nerve sprouting in a rodent model of self-limited peritonitis were investigated.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were randomized into one of three groups: gastric perforation (GP), sham group, and GP group treated with methylprednisolone (GP-M). Aortic expression of NGF and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were evaluated at several different time points (range, 6 h to 2 wk) after GP or sham.


RESULTS
Compared with the sham group, expression of NGF was significantly elevated during the inflammatory period (the first week post-GP) in GP rats. The GP group also had enhanced nerve sprouting, which persisted after the peritonitis recovered. Methylprednisolone abrogated NGF up-regulation and nerve sprouting induced by GP.


CONCLUSIONS
GP resulted in up-regulation of aortic NGF that coincided with aortic nerve sprouting. Methylprednisolone effectively blocked GP-induced NGF up-regulation. Further studies are necessary to decipher the causality of these observed changes.
Tsai
Ming-Shian
MS
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ko
Ya-Hui
YH
Hsu
Wen-Ming
WM
Liang
Jin-Tung
JT
Lai
Hong-Shiee
HS
Lee
Po-Huang
PH
Chang
Kuo-Chu
KC
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001011:Aorta / Q000294:innervation*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000293:injuries*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D008775:Methylprednisolone