Premium
Intraventricular infusion of epidermal growth factor restores dopaminergic pathway in hemiparkinsonian rats
Author(s) -
Pezzoli Gianni,
Zecchinelli Anna,
Ricciardi Sante,
Burke Robert E.,
Fahn Stanley,
Scarlato Guglielmo,
Carenzi Angelo
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.870060403
Subject(s) - dopaminergic , substantia nigra , tyrosine hydroxylase , endocrinology , neurotrophic factors , medicine , parkinsonism , nigrostriatal pathway , dopamine , epidermal growth factor , glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , receptor , disease
We assessed the effect of a 35‐day delayed intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the survival and function of the substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic neurons after a unilateral mechanical transection of rat nigrostriatal pathway. EGF infusion for 28 days resulted in a twofold increase in the number of surviving tyrosine‐hydroxylase (TH)–positive SN neurons and a significant increase in ipsilateral striatal TH‐positive fiber staining compared to controls at 200 days following the injury. In addition, there was a persistent enhancement of behavioral recovery, as indicated by a reduction in amphetamine‐induced rotations. We conclude that EGF exerts a neurotrophic effect on the dopaminergic neurons in this experimental model of parkinsonism.