title: Effects of nerve growth factor in experimental model of focal microgyria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects on neural repair of intraparenchymal nerve growth factor (NGF) administration were evaluated in neonate Wistar rats with experimentally induced focal microgyria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A freezing focal polymicrogyric lesion was induced on the frontal cortex in 35 newborn Wistar rats on postnatal day 1. NGF was administered in 15 cases, with 20 pups as controls. Animals were sacrificed at 72 h and 7 days after NGF administration. Real-time PCR was used for the quantification of the expression of TrkA, p75, and doublecortin (DCX) at the level of the cortical lesion in seven different groups of animals: control 72 h (n = 5), control 7 days (n = 5), microgyria 72 h (n = 5), microgyria 7 days (n = 5), microgyria + NGF 72 h (n = 5), microgyria + NGF 7 days (n = 5), and control + NGF (n = 5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in TrkA expression was found in the microgyria + NGF 7 days group compared to the others. TrkA upregulation was already visible 72 h after NGF administration. Unlike TrkA, p75 expression increased in animals subjected to the experimental focal microgyria and decreased markedly after NGF administration. DCX expression in injured animals was observed to increase strongly 7 days after NGF administration compared with other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NGF administration interferes with neural repair mechanisms at the polymicrogyric lesion site by means of TrkA and DCX upregulation which possibly counteracts the process of apoptosis caused by the brain injury.
authors: Department of Pediatric Neurosciences, Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University Medical School, Largo F. Vito, 1-00168 Rome, Italy. achiaretti@yahoo.it
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Chiaretti
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Narducci
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Novegno
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Antonelli
authors: Filomena
authors: F
authors: Pierri
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Fantacci
authors: Concezio
authors: C
authors: Di Rocco
authors: Gianpiero
authors: G
authors: Tamburrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D005615:Freezing / Q000009:adverse effects; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D054220:Malformations of Cortical Development / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C000714848:Dcx protein, rat; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; C068313:Ngfr protein, rat; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA