INCREASED LEVELS OF NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR IN THE URINARY-BLADDER AND HYPERTROPHY OF DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION NEURONS IN THE DIABETIC RAT

The level of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the streptozotocin (STZ)-dia betic rat was measured at approximately weekly intervals after STZ ind uction, using an ELISA assay technique. In addition, the area profiles of L6-S1, and L1-L2 dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRG), labelled by f ast blue dye injected into the bladder, were measured at the same week ly intervals. Compared to control animals, the levels of NGF rose rapi dly to a maximum at one week and then slowly declined over the next th ree weeks. The areas of the DRGs increased to a peak after which they also started to decline. The peak increase in DRG area profiles was de layed relative to the peak level of bladder NGF. The data suggest that bladder NGF is transported retrogradely to the DRG neurons where it t ransforms the cell economy to cause an increase in size. (C) 1998 Else vier Science B.V.