DECREASED PENTYLENETETRAZOL-INDUCED EXPRESSION OF ZIF 268 IN NGF-TRANSGENIC MICE/

EXPRESSION of the proto-oncogene zif/268 was investigated by in situ h ybridization in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of nerve growth fa ctor (NGF)-transgenic mice during pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seiz ures. NGF-transgenic mice displayed normal basal levels of zif/268 mRN A in cortex and hippocampal formation except for the dentate gyrus whi ch contained significantly reduced levels. PTZ induced a similar trans ient increase of zif/268 mRNA in cortex and Ammon's horn of normal and NGF-transgenic mice. On the other hand, increase of zif/268 mRNA in t he dentate gyrus was significantly lower in transgenic mice. Reduced P TZ-induced activation of zif268 may reflect a decreased sensitivity of NGF-transgenic animals to epilepsy by direct or indirect interaction of NGF with immediate early genes.