Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Zuber, M.
Effect of NGF and FK-506 on the Regeneration of Sensory and Sympathetic Neurons
[ Dissertation ] Medical University of Graz; 2002. pp.
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Donnerer Josef
- Fazekas Franz
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- It has previously been shown that the capsaicin-lesioned peptidergic sensory neurons and the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDa)-lesioned sympathetic noradrenergic neurons represent a useful model to study neurotrophin-induced nerve regeneration in the adult rat. The present study was aimed at investigating if the immunosuppressant drug FK506 (tarcolimus) has neuroregeneratory properties in these capsaicin- or 6-OHDA-lesioned peripheral nerves. FK506 was injected in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 10 days or in a does of 1.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days. One day after the last FK506 injection neurotransmitter content of the sensory neuron marker peptide calcitionin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was reduced after the capsaicin treatment in the skin by 35-40% and in the dorsal spinal cord by 48%. The treatment with FK506 did not induce a recovery of the CGRP content. Following the 6-OHDA treatment the noradrenaline content was reduced by 50-62% in the skin and by 73% in the heart atrium. FK506 alone did not increase the noradrenaline levels, whereas an additional local intraplantar treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) recovered noradrenaline levels almost completely. The expression of a marker protein for growth processes in cells of sympathetic or sensory ganglia, growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43), was significantly increased by the FK506 treatment. This study demonstrated that despite a stimulatory effect of FK506 on the expression of a growth associated protein a transmitter refill is not evident in peripheral small diameter sensory of postganglionic sympathetic neurons of the adult rat.