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Distribution of β‐nerve growth factor receptors in the human basal forebrain
Author(s) -
Allen Shelley J.,
Dawbarn David,
Spillantini Maria G.,
Goedert Michel,
Wilcock Gordon K.,
Moss Timothy H.,
Semenenko Frances M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.902890408
Subject(s) - nucleus basalis , basal forebrain , biology , substantia innominata , diagonal band of broca , cholinergic neuron , globus pallidus , neuroscience , nerve growth factor , magnocellular cell , basal ganglia , cholinergic , anatomy , medicine , receptor , nucleus , central nervous system , biochemistry
The distribution of neurons expressing the receptor for β‐nerve growth factor has been examined immunohistochemically in serial coronal sections of basal forebrain from aged normal human subjects. Neurons expressing the receptor were observed in the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca and in the anterior, the intermediate, and the posterior portions of the nucleus basalis of Meynert. Neurons could also be seen in the medial septal nucleus and embedded in myelinated fibre tracts such as those of the external capsule, cingulum, medullary laminae of the globus pallidus, ansa penduncularis, ansa lenticularis, and anterior commissure. In situ hybridization with a 35 S cDNA probe to the human β‐nerve growth factor receptor confirms a neuronal location as the site of synthesis of β‐nerve growth factor receptors in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in a fifth brain. A high percentage of Nissl‐stained hyperchromic magnocellular neurons expressed the receptor for β‐nerve growth factor, suggesting that most neurons in the human cholinergic magnocellular basal forebrain system express these receptors. Recent data suggest that β‐nerve growth factor functions as a neurotrophic factor in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. In Alzheimer's disease there is known to be a reduction in cholinergic function and an apparent loss of neurons in the cholinergic nucleus basalis of Meynert. For this reason we have examined the distribution of receptors for β‐nerve growth factor in the normal human basal forebrain in order to form a basis for comparison to those with Alzheimer's disease.