Affiliations: Department of Neurological Sciences and Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612 (USA) | Somatix Therapy Corporation, Alameda, CA 94501 (USA)
Note: [] Correspondence: J.H. Kordower, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center, 2242 West Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612,USA. Fax: (1)(312) 633 1586.
Abstract: The expression of the p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) was examined in Rhesus and Cebus monkeys following complete unilateral transections of the hypoglossal nerve. In unoperated and sham-lesioned monkeys, NGF receptor-immunoreactivity was always undetectable within hypoglossal motor neurons. In contrast, monkeys receiving unilateral transections of the hypoglossal nerve displayed numerous NGFR-immunoreactive neurons within ipsilateral hypoglossal motor neurons 1 week post-lesion. The peak expression of NGFR-immunoreactive hypoglossal neurons was seen 4 weeks following the lesion and although fewer, these neurons were still observed in large numbers 10 weeks post-lesion. By 16 weeks post-lesion only a few NGFR-immunoreactive motor neurons were observed. A small number of NGF receptor-immunoreactive neurons were also seen within the contralateral hypoglossal nucleus at post-lesion weeks 4 and 10. These data demonstrate that adult hypoglossal motor neurons express detectable levels of p75 nerve growth factor receptor following hypoglossal nerve transection in monkeys in a manner similar to that previously reported in non-primate species. The synthesis of p75 NGF receptors in these neurons may represent a regeneration-mediated re-expression of NGF receptors which only normally occurs during development.
