Nerve growth factor in the neuroendocrine system

Nerve growth factor (NGF) was initially described as a neurotrophic factor essential for development and survival of selected populations of neurons i ncluding peripheral sympathetic and sensory neurons and central cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Over the past decade, however, several lin es of evidence suggested that NGF activates the immune and inflammatory res ponses and modulates different neuroendocrine interactions. NGF and its rec eptors are expressed in different regions of the endocrine system including the pancraes, the prostate, where NGF appears to be crucial to control cel l growth and differentiation. NGF has been also found in in thyreotrope and lactotrope cells of the anterior pituitary. In lactotrope cells NGF is sto red in secretory granules and is co-secreted with prolactin under the inhib itory control of dopamine. Functional studies suggested that pituitary NGF promotes differentiation, proliferation and maintenance of lactotrope cells .