title: Nerve growth factor in the adult brain of a teleostean model for aging research: Nothobranchius furzeri.
abstract: Nerve growth factor (NGF) acts on central nervous system neurons, regulating naturally occurring cell death, synaptic connectivity, fiber guidance and dendritic morphology. The dynamically regulated production of NGF beginning in development, extends throughout adult life and aging, exerting numerous roles through a surprising variety of neurons and glial cells. This study analyzes the localization of NGF in the brain of the teleost fish Nothobranchius furzeri, an emerging model for aging research due to its short lifespan. Immunochemical and immunohistochemical experiments were performed by employing an antibody mapping at the N-terminus of the mature chain human origin NGF. Western blot analysis revealed an intense and well defined band of 20 kDa, which corresponds to proNGF of N. furzeri. Immunohistochemistry revealed NGF immunoreactivity (IR) diffused throughout all regions of telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and rhomboencephalon. It was detected in neurons and in glial cells, the latter mostly lining the mesencephalic and rhomboencephalic ventricles. Particularly in neurons, NGF IR was localized in perikarya and, to a less extent, in fibers. The widespread distribution of proNGF suggests that it might modulate numerous physiological functions in the adult brain of N. furzeri. The present survey constitutes a baseline study to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the role of NGF during aging processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.affiliation: Biology of Ageing Fritz Lipmann Institute for Age Research, Leibniz Institute, Jena 07745, Germany; Laboratory of Neurobiology, Neuroscience Institute CNR, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cellerino
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Girolamo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Via Veterinaria 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: lucini@unina.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucini
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Brain; Fish; NGF; Neurotrophins