Open AccessDifferentiating effects of murine nerve growth factor in the peripheral and central nervous systems of Xenopus laevis tadpoles.
Author(s) -
Rita LeviMontalcini,
Luigi Aloe
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.82.20.7111
Subject(s) - xenopus , nerve growth factor , biology , central nervous system , neuroscience , peripheral nervous system , sensory system , nervous system , peripheral , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , receptor , genetics , gene
The present investigation was directed toward exploration of the spectrum of action of murine nerve growth factor (m-NGF) in peripheral cells and neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. It was found that systemic m-NGF injections elicit growth and differentiative effects not only on sensory and sympathetic nerve cells but also on several populations in the CNS. The finding that aminergic and peptidergic neurons in brain centers are highly receptive to m-NGF activity provides evidence for the broad spectrum of action of this molecule in lower vertebrates and calls for a systematic search for these and other putative target cells in the CNS of higher vertebrates.