ENHANCEMENT OF NGF GENE-EXPRESSION IN RAT-BRAIN BY THE MEMORY-ENHANCING PEPTIDE AVP(4-8)

Northern blot analysis of nerve growth factor (NGF) was used to evalua te the effect of exogenous AVP(4-8) on the transcription of NGF gene i n rat brain. NGF expression was found to be significantly enhanced by exogenous AVP(4-8) in the hippocampus as well as in the cerebral corte x in a time period of 12 h. This effect was inhibited by an antagonist to AVP(4-8). In addition, gel mobility shift assay was also used to o bserve the in vitro expression of c-fos gene in rat hippocampal slices . Our results suggest that NGF gene is one of the target genes respons ible for memory-enhancing responses induced by AVP(4-8) and that the e nhancement of NGF gene expression may share the signaling pathway medi ated by AVP(4-8) receptor and c-fos gene expression.