Expression of HGF and cMet in the peripheral nervous system of adult rats following sciatic nerve injury

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exhibits neurotrophic properties on differen t types of neuron, including motor, sensory and parasympathetic neurons. We demonstrate that sciatic nerve ligation induces an increase of the HGF rec eptor, c-met, mRNA in the distal segment of the sciatic nerve to the ligati on site and a delayed elevation in the proximal segment. Immunohistochemica l analysis revealed co-localization of cMet and GFAP and indicates that Sch wann cells express cMet in the sciatic nerve after injury: HGF mRNA was det ected in the spinal cord and DRG, and nerve injury did not alter the expres sion. These data demonstrate that the expression of HGF and cMet in the per ipheral nervous system shows the unique pattern of regulation following ner ve injury. NeuroReport 12:1403-1407 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.