INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF A TRANSFERRIN RECEPTOR ANTIBODY NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR CONJUGATE PREVENTS THE DEGENERATION OF CHOLINERGIC STRIATAL NEURONS IN A MODEL OF HUNTINGTON DISEASE

Intrastriatal injections of quinolinic acid induce a pattern of neuron al degeneration similar to that seen in Huntington disease. In the pre sent study, nerve growth factor (NGF) crossed the blood-brain barrier in a dose dependent fashion following intravenous infusion when conjug ated to an antibody directed against the transferrin receptor (OX-26). Intravenous injections of the OX-26-NGF conjugate selectively prevent ed the loss of striatal choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive neuro ns which normally occurs following quinolinic acid administration rela tive to control rats receiving vehicle or a nonconjugated mixture of O X-26 and NGF. These data demonstrate that a neurotrophic factor-antibo dy conjugate can prevent the degeneration of central NGF responsive ne urons following systemic administration.