Data and hypotheses on the role of nerve growth factor and other neurotrophins in psychiatric disorders

Nerve growth factor (NGF) was discovered and characterized for its role on the growth, differentiation and maintenance of specific neurons of the peri pheral nervous system. Subsequent studies revealed that NGF is synthesized and released within the central nervous system and exerts a trophic and fun ctional role on basal forebrain cholinergic neurons; it is involved in a pr otective role following brain insults induced by an epileptic status, seizu re, as well as surgical and chemical lesions. More recently our collaborative studies provided evidence that NGF is impli cated in neurobehavioral response including cerebral alterations associated with psychiatric disorders. In this brief review, ongoing and emerging dat a are presented and discussed. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.