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Induction of Urokinase‐Type Plasminogen Activator in Rat Facial Nucleus by Axotomy of the Facial Nerve
Author(s) -
Nakajima Kazuyuki,
Reddington Martin,
Kohsaka Shinichi,
Kreutzberg Georg W.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.66062500.x
Subject(s) - axotomy , facial nerve , plasminogen activator , urokinase , chemistry , lesion , endocrinology , medicine , anatomy , pathology , central nervous system
The response of plasminogen activator activity in the CNS to peripheral nerve axotomy was examined in vivo. After transection of the rat facial nerve, a transient increase in plasminogen activator activity was observed in the facial nucleus on the operated side with maximal activity 3–5 days after lesion. This activity was inhibited by the urokinase‐specific inhibitor amiloride but not by antibodies against tissue plasminogen activator. The molecular mass of the induced form of plasminogen activator was estimated to be ∼48 kDa. An in vitro assay of plasminogen hydrolysis also demonstrated an increase in amiloride‐sensitive plasminogen activator activity in facial nerve extracts following facial nerve axotomy. These data indicate that the plasminogen activator activity induced in the facial nucleus following axotomy of facial motoneurons is of the urokinase type. It is suggested that the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator might play a role in the events accompanying injury and regeneration in the facial nucleus following motoneuron lesion.