Fos induction by nerve growth factor in the adult rat brain

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 632; no. 1; pp. 57 - 67
• Main Authors: Peng, Z.-C., Chen, S., Fusco, M., Vantini, G., Bentivoglio, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 31.12.1993; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Animals; Auditory system; Basal forebrain; Biochemistry and metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Central nervous system; Diencephalon - drug effects; Diencephalon - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - drug effects; Genes, fos - drug effects; Genes, fos - physiology; Hypothalamus; Immediate early gene; Male; Medulla Oblongata - drug effects; Medulla Oblongata - metabolism; Mesencephalon - drug effects; Mesencephalon - metabolism; Nerve Growth Factors - pharmacology; Neuronal activation; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Neurotrophin; Organ Specificity; Pons - drug effects; Pons - metabolism; Posterodorsal tegmental nucleus; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Telencephalon - drug effects; Telencephalon - metabolism; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Neurotrophin; Auditory system; Basal forebrain; Posterodorsal tegmental nucleus; Hypothalamus; Immediate early gene; Neuronal activation; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Rat; Immunocytochemistry; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Nerve growth factor; Gene expression; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(93)91138-I

The distribution of Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c- fos, was studied with immunocytochemistry in the adult male rat brain after nerve growth factor (NGF) administration. NGF was injected in the lateral cerebral ventricle through a previously implanted cannula. The total number of Fos-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the brain was 2–3 times higher after NGF administration than in control animals (untreated or injected with cytochrome c). With respect to control rats, in the NGF-treated cases Fos-ir cells were more numerous in the anterior olfactory nucleus, in the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices, in the basal forebrain, in the preoptic and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, as well as interior hypothalamic area, in the thalamic midline nuclei, and in some brainstem structures, such as the parabrachial nucleus. The relative quantitative increase of Fos-ir neurons varied in the different structures. In addition, Fos-ir neurons were evident after NGF administration in areas devoid of immunopositive cells in control animals. These included: frontoparietal and occipital cortical fields, the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, and many brainstem structures, such as the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, posterodorsal tegmental, medial and lateral vestibular, ventral cochlear, and prepositus hypoglossal nuclei. These findings demonstrate that the intracerebroventricular administration of NGF can induce c- fos expression in neurons in vivo. The distribution of Fos-ir neurons indicates that NGF can induce activation of functionally and chemically hetergeneous neuronal subsets in the brain.