NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR TREATMENT PREVENTS DENDRITIC ATROPHY AND PROMOTESRECOVERY OF FUNCTION AFTER CORTICAL INJURY

This study examined the behavioural and anatomical effects of intraven tricular injections of nerve growth factor in rats with unilateral dam age that included Zilles' areas Frl, FL, HL, Par1 and the anterior por tion of Oc2. Nerve growth factor-treated lesion rats showed attenuatio n of behavioural symptoms in measures of forelimb function (Whishaw re aching task) and hindlimb function (beam traversing task) as well as a measure of spatial navigation (Morris water task). Analysis of dendri tic arborization using a modified Golgi-Cox procedure also showed a co mplete reversal of lesion-induced atrophy of dendritic fields in pyram idal neurons in motor (Zilles' Fr2) and cingulate (Zilles' Cg1) cortex . In addition, there was a reversal of a lesion-induced reduction in s pine density. These results demonstrate that nerve growth factor treat ment can facilitate functional recovery from cortical injury. This rec overy map be mediated by a reorganization of intrinsic cortical circui try that is reflected in changes in dendritic arborization and spine d ensity of pyramidal neurons. Copyright (C) 1996 IBRO. Published by Els evier Science Ltd.