Skip to main content
Log in

Localization of nerve growth factor receptor mRNA in the rat basal forebrain within situ hybridization histochemistry

  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to localize nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) mRNA in the adult rat basal forebrain.

  2. 2.

    In emulsion-dipped sections35S-labeled RNA antisense probes produced a high density of silver grains over cells located in the medial septum, vertical and horizontal limbs of the diagonal band of Broca, and nucleus basalis.

  3. 3.

    This distribution of NGFR mRNA overlaps with the distribution of NGFR protein localized using immunocytochemical techniques.

  4. 4.

    No hybridization signal was detected when sections were hybridized with a35S-labeled RNA sense (control) probe.

  5. 5.

    We suggest that NGFRs are synthesized in these basal forebrain nuclei and transported to terminal areas where NGF is thought to be bound and internalized, an initial step in the many actions of this neurotrophic factor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Buck, C. R., Martinez, H. J., Black, I. B., and Chao, M. V. (1987). Developmentally regulated expression of the nerve growth factor receptor gene in the periphery and brain.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 843060–3063.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesselet, M.-F., Weiss, L. T., Wuenschell, C., Tobin, A., and Affolter, H. U. (1987). Comparative distribution of mRNAs for glutamic acid decarboxylase, tyroxine hydroxylase, and tachykinins in the basal ganglia: An in situ hybridization study in the rodent brain.J. Comp. Neurol. 262125–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ernfors, P., Hallbook, F., Ebendal, T., Shooter, E. M., Radeke, M. J., Misko, T. P., and Persson, H. (1988). Developmental and regional expression ofβ-nerve growth factor receptor mRNA in the chick and rat.Neuron 1983–996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gage, F. H., Batchelor, P., Chen, K. S., Chin, D., Deputy, S., Rosenberg, M. B., Higgins, G. A., Koh, S., Fisher, W., and Bjorklund, A. (1989). NGF-receptor reexpression and NGF-mediated cholinergic neuron hypertrophy in the damaged adult neostriatum.Neuron 21177–1184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hefti, F. (1986). Nerve growth factor promotes survival of septal cholinergic neurons after fimbrial transections.J. Neurosci. 62155–2162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hefti, F., Dravid, A. and Hartikka, J. (1984). Chronic intraventricular injections of nerve growth factor elevate hippocampal choline acetyltransferase in adults with partial septohippocampal lesions.Brain Res. 293305–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hefti, F., Hartikka, J., Eckenstein, F., Gnahn, H., Heumann, R., and Schwab, M. (1985). Nerve growth factor (NGF) increases choline acetyltransferase, but not survival or fiber outgrowth of cultured septal cholinergic neurons.Neuroscience 1455–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E. M., Jr., Taniuchi, M., Clark, B. H., Springer, J. E., Koh, S., Tayrien, M., and Loy, R. (1987). Demonstration of the retrograde transport of nerve growth factor receptor in the peripheral and central nervous system.J. Neurosci. 7923–929.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kordower, J. H., Bartus, R. T., Bothwell, M., Schatteman, G., and Gash, D. M. (1988). Nerve growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in the non-human primate (Cebus apella): Distribution, morphology, and colocalization with cholinergic enzymes.J. Comp. Neurol. 277465–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korsching, S., Auberger, G., Heumann, R., Scott, J., and Thoenen, H. (1985). Levels of nerve growth factor and its mRNA in the central nervous system of the rat correlates with cholinergic innervation.EMBO J. 41389–1393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E. F., and Sambrook, J. (Eds.) (1982).Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mobley, W. C., Tennekoon, J. L., Buchannan, K., and Johnston, M. V. (1985). Choline acetyltransferase activity in the striatum of neontal rats increased by nerve growth factor.Science 229284–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radeke, M. J., Misko, T. P., Hsu, C., Herzenberg, L. A., and Shooter, E. M. (1987). Gene transfer and molecular cloning of the rat nerve growth factor receptor.Nature 325593–597.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, P. M., Verge Issa, V. M. K., and Riopelle, R. J. (1986). Distribution of neuronal receptors for nerve growth factor in the rat.J. Neurosci. 62312–2321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwab, M. R., Ottenn, U., Agid, Y., and Thoenen, H. (1979). Nerve growth factor (NGF) in the rat CNS. Absence of specific retrograde transport and tyrosine hydroxylase induction in locus coeruleus and substantia nigra.Brain Res. 168473–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiler, M., and Schwab, M. E. (1984). Specific retrograde transport of nerve growth factor (NGF) from the cortex to nucleus basalis in the rat.Brain Res. 30033–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelton, D. L., and Reichardt, L. F. (1986). Studies on the expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) gene in the central nervous system: Levels and regional distribution of NGF mRNA suggests that NGF functions as a trophic factor for several distinct populations of neurons.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83 2714–2718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, J. E. (1988). Nerve growth factor receptors in the central nervous system.Exp. Neurol. 102354–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, J. E., Koh, S., Tayrien, M. W., and Loy, R. (1987). Basal forebrain magnocellular neurons stain for nerve growth factor receptor: correlation with cholinergic cell bodies and effects of axotomy.J. Neurosci. Res. 17111–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittemore, S. R., Ebendal, T., Larkfors, L., Olson, L., Seiger, A., Stromberg, I., and Persson, H. (1986). Developmental and regional expression ofβ-nerve growth factor messenger RNA and protein in the rat central nervous system.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83817–821.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, L. R., Varon, S., Peterson, G. M., Wictorin, K., Fisher, W., Bjorklund, A., and Gage, F. H. (1986). Continuous infusion of nerve growth factor prevents basal forebrain neural death after fimbria fornix transection.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83 9231–9236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanker, B. A., and Shooter, E. M. (1979). Nerve growth factor in the nucleus: Interaction with receptors on the nuclear membrane.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 761269–1273.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Springer, J.E., Robbins, E., Meyer, S. et al. Localization of nerve growth factor receptor mRNA in the rat basal forebrain within situ hybridization histochemistry. Cell Mol Neurobiol 10, 33–39 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733633

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733633

Key words

Navigation