González-Hoyuela M, Soto J, García-Milian R, Ubieta R, Francis L, Conde-Vázquez R
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica (CIREN), Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba.
Rev Neurol. 1998 Feb;26(150):204-7.
Several authors have suggested that loss of neuronal trophic support may be an important element in the physiopathology of degenerative conditions of the central nervous system such as Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis amongst others. In the light of present knowledge, the survival of cholinergic populations of the anterior basal cerebrum, closely involved with cognitive processes of memory and learning, is associated with adequate function of the neural growth factor (NGF). These populations are markedly damaged in Alzheimer's disease, and this has been correlated with the progressive loss of memory and intellectual involvement seen in this disorder. The model used in this study was based on section of the septohippocampal connecting pathways, so that transport of regulatory impulses from the hippocampus to the medial septum was interrupted. This has lethal results for the cholinergic neurons of the latter. We have developed a study designed to characterize the expression of the gene of NGF in different regions of the brain, involved in cholinergic neurotransmission in healthy and in damaged tissue.
We used a molecular hybridization technique with a cDNA catheter complementary to the radio-isotope marked NGF human gene.
The highest levels of expression were found in the healthy cortex and hippocampus. The reduction in the levels of mRNA of NGF in the damaged hippocampus supports the current thesis which considers synaptic activity to be a major regulator of the synthesis of this molecule in the brain.
多位作者提出，神经元营养支持的丧失可能是中枢神经系统退行性疾病如阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病或肌萎缩侧索硬化症等病理生理学中的一个重要因素。根据目前的知识，与记忆和学习的认知过程密切相关的前脑基底胆碱能神经元群的存活与神经生长因子（NGF）的正常功能有关。这些神经元群在阿尔茨海默病中受到显著损害，这与该疾病中逐渐出现的记忆丧失和智力障碍相关。本研究使用的模型基于切断海马隔连接通路，从而中断从海马到内侧隔的调节冲动传递。这对后者的胆碱能神经元具有致命影响。我们开展了一项研究，旨在表征NGF基因在大脑不同区域的表达情况，这些区域参与健康组织和受损组织中的胆碱能神经传递。
我们使用了一种分子杂交技术，采用与放射性同位素标记的人NGF基因互补的cDNA探针。
在健康的皮质和海马中发现了最高水平的表达。受损海马中NGF的mRNA水平降低，支持了当前的观点，即突触活动是大脑中该分子合成的主要调节因子。
