Abstract
Using neonatal rats we investigated the role of the thymus and thymosin-alpha1 (T-alpha1) in brain NGF levels, NGF receptor (p75NGFr) expression, as well as the activity of choline acetyl-transferase, a cholinergic enzyme regulated by NGF. It is shown that early postnatal thymectomy causes a decrease in NGF in the hippocampus and cortex and p75NGFr distribution in the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (FBCN). Intracerebral T-alpha1 injection in thymectomized animals induces a recovery, albeit not complete, of both NGF and p75NGFr. These findings indicate that thymectomy affects both the brain NGF producing and responding cells and that T-alpha1 may be one of the thymic hormones involved in the regulation of cerebral NGF synthesis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology*
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Brain Chemistry / drug effects*
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Brain Chemistry / immunology
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Cerebral Cortex / chemistry
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Cerebral Cortex / cytology
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Choline O-Acetyltransferase / analysis
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Female
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Hippocampus / chemistry
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Hippocampus / cytology
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Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism*
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Neurons / chemistry
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Neurons / enzymology
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Pregnancy
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / analysis
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism*
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Thymalfasin
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Thymectomy
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Thymosin / analogs & derivatives*
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Thymosin / pharmacology
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Thymus Gland / physiology*
Substances
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
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Thymosin
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Choline O-Acetyltransferase
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Thymalfasin