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C M Gall

Publications and source records attributed to C M Gall.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Ultrastructural plasticity of the dentate gyrus granule cells following recurrent limbic seizures: II. Alterations in somatic synapses.

Hilus lesion-induced recurrent limbic seizures cause a dramatic increase in the numbers of somatic spines on dentate gyrus granule cells in the adult rat. Somatic spines are maximally increased 3 h after the initiation of seizures at which time many of these spines form synapses. The present quantitative electron microscopic study assessed the numbers and types of synapses present on the granule cell perikarya and somatic spines of control and experimental seizure rats with the goal of determining if newly elaborated somatic spines arise at the site of pre-existing synapses or are associated with new innervation. Experimental rats were sacrificed 5 h after hilar lesion placement (or 3 h after seizure onset). In both control and hilus-lesioned (HL) rats, 15-20% of the somatic spines could be seen to form synaptic contacts within a single plane of section; these synapses were almost exclusively of the asymmetric type. With the increased incidence of spines in experimental-seizure rats, there was a 6.25-fold greater number of spine synapses in HL versus control rats. There was, in addition, a 60% decrease in the number of asymmetric synapses occurring directly on the granule cell perikarya but no change in the total (spine plus somatic) number of asymmetric synapses. Although few asymmetric synapses were associated with spines in control tissue, 60-70% of asymmetric synapses were associated with spines in experimental-seizure tissue. In addition, in hilus lesion rats symmetric somatic synapses were increased by 20% on cells in deep stratum granulosum resulting in a dissolution of the superficial-to-deep innervation gradient present in the untreated rat. These findings support the conclusion that spines induced by seizure activity form at the site of pre-existing asymmetric synapses on the granule cells and demonstrate that brief seizure episodes can rapidly induce marked changes in innervation patterns in the adult brain.

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Seizure-induced increases in NGF mRNA exhibit different time courses across forebrain regions and are biphasic in hippocampus.

In the present study, in situ hybridization and S1 nuclease protection analyses were used to evaluate the temporal and spatial parameters of changes in nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA expression in rat forebrain following hilus lesion-induced recurrent limbic seizures. Seizure-induced increases in NGF mRNA levels were widespread with differences in the temporal parameters of change between brain areas. There were two distinct increases in NGF cRNA hybridization in dentate gyrus stratum granulosum. Hybridization was increased several-fold by 6 h after a seizure-producing hilus lesion (HL), declined to below control values by 12 h post-HL, and then increased again by 24 h post-HL, or 12 h after the termination of seizures. This biphasic increase was corroborated by S1 nuclease protection analysis. In entorhinal cortex, cingulate cortex and neocortex NGF cRNA hybridization was markedly increased first in layers II/III by 6-12 h post-HL and progressed to layers V/VI by 24 h post-HL. Striking increases in NGF mRNA were detected in the majority of amygdaloid nuclei beginning with the cortical nuclei by 12 h postlesion and extending into the more deeply placed nuclei by 24 h postlesion. Labeling was increased in sparsely distributed neurons in the caudate putamen, ventral pallidum, and tenia tecta at 24 h post-HL. In all areas, hybridization declined to control values by 48-96 h post-HL. NGF expression was not changed in some forebrain regions which normally contain NGF mRNA including the diagonal bands of Broca and select thalamic nuclei. These data demonstrate that seizures stimulate NGF expression in many different types of neurons. Moreover, regional differences in the time courses of induction suggest that distinct regulatory mechanisms subserve activity-dependent changes in NGF mRNA expression in different neuronal populations.

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Induction of beta-amyloid-containing polypeptides in hippocampus: evidence for a concomitant loss of synaptic proteins and interactions with an excitotoxin.

Long-term cultures of brain slices were used to test if the lysosomotropic agent chloroquine induces beta-amyloid-related peptides in hippocampus and if such effects are accompanied by other manifestations of brain aging. Chloroquine administration resulted in the appearance of a carboxyl-terminal fragment of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP); the 27-kDa antigen was detectable after 24 h, increased rapidly for 6-10 days, and was eliminated upon drug washout. Immunocytochemical analyses showed that beta-amyloid immunoreactivity accumulated in the perikarya of pyramidal neurons, primarily in the form of punctate bodies. These effects were accompanied by a correlated loss (and recovery) of the presynaptic marker synaptophysin and by a delayed reduction of postsynaptic glutamate receptors, while cytoskeletal proteins were unchanged. Acute administration of chloroquine had no evident effects on synaptic responses but prolonged applications caused a decrease in the maximum amplitude of field potentials. Finally, a brief pretreatment with the excitotoxin kainic acid had little effect with regard to APP fragments or synaptophysin, but altered the events following from a subsequent infusion of chloroquine. Buildup of the 27-kDa APP fragment and loss of synaptophysin were more rapid and, more importantly, did not reverse upon washout of chloroquine. These findings indicate that lysosomal dysfunction in hippocampus results in the accumulation of a particular APP fragment and suggest that this event, or a variable correlated with it, is linked to the loss of synaptic proteins. They also raise the possibility that certain aspects of brain aging reflect a synergism between lysosomal disturbances and excitotoxicity.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

Cellular localization of NGF and NT-3 mRNAs in postnatal rat forebrain.

The presence of transiently elevated levels of mRNA for nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in postnatal development of several brain areas suggests that these factors may be expressed by a greater number of cell types in the immature than in the adult brain. To evaluate this possibility, in situ hybridization was used to determine the cellular localization of NGF mRNA and NT-3 mRNA in hippocampus, cingulate cortex, posterolateral neocortex, thalamus, and cerebellum of postnatal rat. In areas expressing both neurotrophins (i.e., hippocampus, cingulate cortex, and anteroventral thalamus), NT-3 mRNA was detected at earlier ages than NGF mRNA. Patterns of hybridization in hippocampus and cerebellum indicate that NT-3 is expressed by neurons soon after leaving the mitotic cycle whereas NGF expression is a feature of more mature neurons. The exception to this pattern was NGF expression in the lateral geniculate nuclei which was present by Postnatal Day 1 and retained in the adult. Both neurotrophins were transiently expressed in several brain areas. The loss of expression with age was most striking in thalamus with transient expression of NT-3 mRNA by the majority of dorsal thalamic relay nuclei and of NGF mRNA by fewer nuclei including the posterior, anteroventral, ventrolateral, and ventromedial nuclei. NT-3 expression also was transient in caudal cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, hippocampal CA3 stratum pyramidale, and the granule cells of archicerebellum. In early postnatal cingulate and retrosplenial cortices there were reciprocal rostrocaudal gradients of NGF and NT-3 expression. These results suggest both distinct and overlapping functions for NT-3 and NGF in early developmental processes including involvement of NT-3 in cerebellar development and of NGF in the development and maintenance of visual afferents to thalamus. Patterns of neurotrophin expression in medial limbic cortex may establish trophic gradients which influence the topography of thalamic innervation.

Aging↗

Interleukin-1 beta increases basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA expression in adult rat brain and organotypic hippocampal cultures.

In situ hybridization was used to study the effect of IL-1 beta on acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA expression in rat brain. Intraventricular injection of recombinant human IL-1 beta did not affect hybridization to aFGF mRNA but did induce significant and widespread increases in hybridization to bFGF mRNA. IL-1 beta induced increases in bFGF mRNA were bilaterally distributed and appeared to correspond with the distribution of non-neuronal cells. Thus, hybridization was increased in regions of both gray and white matter (e.g., corpus callosum), the ependymal lining of the third ventricle, and the pia matter. In hippocampus of IL-1 beta injected rats, hybridization was markedly increased in the molecular layers but not significantly increased in the neuronal cell layers. Elevations in bFGF mRNA were transient, peaking at 8 h postinjection in most areas. To determine if IL-1 beta effects were independent of activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, and to compare the cellular localization of increases in bFGF mRNA expression induced by IL-1 beta and bFGF, the regulation of bFGF expression was also studied in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Treatment of cultures with either IL-1 beta or bFGF stimulated the same general distribution of increases in bFGF mRNA as seen after IL-1 beta treatment in vivo with an additional effect on immature neurons within the hilar side of stratum granulosum; hybridization of bFGF mRNA was not increased in association with the more mature neurons of stratum pyramidale or stratum granulosum. Colocalization of bFGF cRNA hybridization with immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein demonstrated that increases in bFGF mRNA induced both by IL-1 beta in vivo and in vitro and by bFGF in vitro were largely associated with astroglial cells. These findings suggest that IL-1 beta induction of bFGF contributes to the coactivation of these substances following various forms of insult to the CNS and initiates a cascade of trophic interactions that regulates processes of glial proliferation, neurotrophic factor expression, and neuroprotection.

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Seizures increase basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA in adult rat forebrain neurons and glia.

The distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA in normal rat forebrain, and the influence of recurrent seizure activity on the expression of this mRNA, was evaluated using in situ hybridization and S1 nuclease protection techniques. In the untreated adult rat, hybridization of 35S-labeled bFGF cRNA densely labeled neurons in a few discrete areas including the tenia tecta, indusium gresium, and hippocampal stratum pyramidale of regions CA2 and rostromedial CA1. Neurons in the prosubiculum and rostromedial dentate gyrus stratum granulosum were lightly labeled. In addition, a diffuse distribution of autoradiographic labeling in areas such as the hippocampal molecular layers, olfactory cortical layer I, and the olfactory nerve layer was suggestive of localization in glial cells. Platinum wire hilar lesions, which did not induce seizures, increased cRNA hybridization in glial cells in primary and secondary areas of degeneration in the ipsilateral hemisphere only; hybridization was not noticeably increased in neurons in these lesion-control rats. Focal stainless-steel wire hilar lesions, which caused recurrent seizures 2-10 h postlesion, induced bilaterally distributed increases in cRNA hybridization in hippocampus, neocortex, olfactory cortex, amygdala, and septum. These seizure-dependent increases in hybridization were evident 6 h postlesion, were maximal from 12 to 24 h postlesion, and declined to near control levels by 4 days. In most regions the elevated hybridization appeared to be associated primarily with astroglia but in experimental seizure rats sacrificed 12 and 24 h postlesion hybridization was also markedly increased in the dentate gyrus granule cells and olfactory cortical neurons. These results demonstrate that recurrent seizures increase bFGF mRNA expression by both forebrain neurons and glia and implicate bFGF in the coordination of other changes in the biosynthetic activities of forebrain neurons that occur after seizures.

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Cerebral hemidecortication alters expression of transforming growth factor alpha mRNA in the neostriatum of developing rats.

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) is a mitogenic polypeptide which acts at the epidermal growth factor receptor to produce its biologic effects. Recent studies have demonstrated that TGF alpha may act as a neurotrophic factor. Cerebral hemispherectomy (hemidecortication) is performed on some children with intractable epilepsy. Prior studies have demonstrated improved functional recovery in both children and animals when the surgery is performed at a very early age. In order to test whether TGF alpha may be involved in the functional recovery of the neostriatum following cerebral hemidecortication, we performed in situ hybridization for TGF alpha mRNA on brains of rats which underwent hemispherectomy at postnatal day (P) 6 or P12 or in adulthood, and sacrificed one, 7, or 30 days following surgery. Normal striatal expression in control animals was very high at P6 and then decreased throughout development. In animals undergoing lesion at earlier ages (P6 and P12), TGF alpha mRNA expression was first depressed in the ipsilateral neostriatum one day after surgery and then elevated to supranormal levels 7 and 30 days after surgery. Maximal decreases (40% below contralateral neostriatum) were seen in animals lesioned at P12 and sacrificed the next day. Maximal elevations (60% greater than opposite neostriatum) were seen in animals operated on at P6 and sacrificed 30 days post surgery. Expression in the adult animal was only mildly affected, with a 20% increase found in the ipsilateral caudate 7 days after the lesion, but no significant changes after one or 30 days survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗

Differential regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase messenger RNA expression in Alzheimer's disease.

The relative levels of messenger RNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the alpha subunit of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II were examined in hippocampal sections from Alzheimer's diseased and age matched non-diseased brains by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Consistent with previous reports in monkey and rodent, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II messenger RNA was prevalent throughout the dentate gyrus, all the principal hippocampal subfields, and adjacent cortical regions. A distribution consistent with the dendritic localization of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II was also observed. In contrast, brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA levels were much lower than calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II messenger RNA levels and were less widely distributed. Within the hippocampus of Alzheimer's diseased brains, levels of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II messenger RNA were increased and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA were decreased in comparison with matched controls. These changes were consistently seen in four out of six cases processed for both messenger RNA species and ranged from 150-300% relative to non-diseased brain tissue for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and 20-70% for brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These results suggest that within the Alzheimer's hippocampus an altered program of gene expression is occurring leading to aberrant levels of both calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA. Previous studies of the activity-dependent regulation of these messenger RNA species suggest these results are consistent with a decrease in afferent activity within the Alzheimer's hippocampus.

Aged↗

Hippocampal epileptogenesis produced by electrolytic iron deposition in the rat dentate gyrus.

Anodal current passed through a stainless-steel electrode, positioned unilaterally in the rat dentate gyrus hilus, will produce recurrent motor seizures and significant changes in the neuronal expression of several messenger RNAs (mRNAs) throughout the full bilateral extent of the hippocampus. The present study quantitatively analyzed electroencephalograms (EEGs) from rats receiving this electrolytic treatment in order to characterize the resultant hippocampal seizure activity. To examine the epileptogenic role of ferric ion deposition to that of current-induced tissue destruction, we compared steel to platinum electrodes. Adult male rats were surgically implanted with a chronic recording electrode in the CA3 region of the hippocampus, and then (contralaterally) with either an insulated steel electrode in the hilus, platinum electrode in the hilus, or steel electrode in the medial entorhinal cortex. Each rat received an anodal current through the nonrecording treatment electrode while connected to a polygraph. Currents ranged from 0.8 mA, 7 s for hilus electrodes to 2.0 mA, 20 s for entorhinal cortex electrodes. EEGs were collected from alert, unrestrained rats for up to 50 consecutive hours, and additional EEGs were recorded periodically over a 4-day period. Subjects were sacrificed and brain sections were microscopically examined for evidence of neuropathology. The results demonstrate that electrolytic deposition of iron ions in the hilus, and not merely hilus tissue destruction, produce electrographic seizure activity within 1-2 h of current passage. Seizures recurred most intensely for 2-3 h, and sporadic epileptiform activity was detected for up to 12 h. Motor seizures of class 4 or 5 were observed in all seizing rats, and were always coincident with hippocampal seizure discharges. Histological examination of brain sections from all subjects found no evidence of cell death in the contralateral hippocampus. The dentate gyrus appeared to be the most epileptogenic site tested because hippocampal iron deposition that did not include the dentate gyrus, or iron deposition in the entorhinal cortex, was significantly less epileptogenic.

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Localization and alternative splicing of agrin mRNA in adult rat brain: transcripts encoding isoforms that aggregate acetylcholine receptors are not restricted to cholinergic regions.

Agrin is a protein implicated in the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. In addition to motor neurons, agrin mRNA has been detected in the brains of embryonic rat and chick and adult marine ray, suggesting that this molecule may also be involved in the formation of synapses between neurons. As a step toward understanding agrin's role in the CNS, we utilized Northern blot and in situ hybridization techniques to analyze the regional distribution and cellular localization of agrin mRNA in the spinal cord and brain of adult rats. The results of these studies indicate that the agrin mRNA is expressed predominantly by neurons broadly distributed throughout the adult CNS. Moreover, expression of agrin mRNA is not restricted to cholinergic structures or regions of the brain receiving cholinergic input. Recently, RNA isolated from rat embryonic spinal cord was shown to contain four alternatively spliced agrin mRNAs, referred to as agrin0, agrin8, agrin11, and agrin19, each of which encodes agrin proteins that are active in acetylcholine receptor aggregating assays (Ferns et al., 1992). Using the polymerase chain reaction we demonstrate that all four of these agrin transcripts are expressed within the adult CNS. Agrin0, agrin8, and agrin19 were present in all regions analyzed. In contrast, agrin11 was detected only in forebrain. Results of these studies indicate that both the level of expression and pattern of alternative splicing of agrin mRNA are differentially regulated in the brain. The broad and predominantly neuronal distribution of agrin mRNA in the adult brain suggests that, in addition to its role at the neuromuscular junction, agrin may play a role in formation and maintenance of synapses between neurons in the CNS.

Agrin↗

Nerve growth factor mRNA is expressed by GABAergic neurons in rat hippocampus.

Isotopic and colorimetric in situ hybridization techniques were combined to determine if nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA is colocalized with mRNA for the GABA biosynthetic enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in adult rat hippocampus. Quantification of neurons labeled with both 35S-labeled GAD67 mRNA and digoxigenin-labeled NGF cRNA determined that of the NGF cRNA-labeled neurons, 97% within regions CA3-CA1, and 88% within the hilus, were also labeled with GAD67 cRNA. Overall, 47% of the total population of GAD67 cRNA labeled cells were NGF cRNA positive. The greater portion of stratum granulosum was lightly labeled by the NGF cRNA alone. The results indicate that, excepting stratum granulosum, NGF is predominantly synthesized by GABAergic neurons in rat hippocampus.

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Induction of F1/GAP-43 gene expression in hippocampal granule cells after seizures [corrected].

In the adult rat hippocampus mRNA of F1/GAP-43, an axonal growth-associated protein, is highly expressed in pyramidal cells, but is absent in granule cells. To determine whether granule cells can be induced to express mRNA of F1/GAP-43, transcript levels were studied after limbic seizures, which can induce sprouting of granule cell mossy fibers. Seizure-inducing electrolytic lesions were made in the dentate gyrus hilus with stainless-steel electrodes and mRNA levels were measured in contralateral hippocampus by quantitative in situ hybridization. Induction of F1/GAP-43 mRNA expression was observed in granule cells at 24 h, but not at 6 or 12 h, after the hilar lesion. When equivalent sized hilar lesions were made with platinum electrodes, which do not induce seizures, no hybridization was apparent over the granule cells. Hybridization over granule cells had declined by 48 h post-lesion, but even at 10 days it was still slightly higher than in control rats. F1/GAP-43 mRNA expression was also increased 2-fold in CA1 pyramidal cells with peak expression at 48 h post-lesion. These are the first data to our knowledge that demonstrate that F1/GAP-43 gene expression can be altered in neurons located within the adult brain. Induction of F1/GAP-43 mRNA expression in the granule cells may be important for the sprouting of mossy fibers and could be triggered by the elevated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in CA3 cells which precede the increased F1/GAP-43 gene expression in granule cells.

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In situ hybridization localization of choline acetyltransferase mRNA in adult rat brain and spinal cord.

The cellular distribution of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA within the adult rat central nervous system was evaluated using in situ hybridization. In forebrain, hybridization of a 35S-labeled rat ChAT cRNA densely labeled neurons in the well-characterized basal forebrain cholinergic system including the medial septal nucleus, diagonal bands of Broca, nucleus basalis of Meynert and substantia innominata, as well as in the striatum, ventral pallidum, and olfactory tubercle. A small number of lightly labeled neurons were distributed throughout neocortex, primarily in superficial layers. No cellular labeling was detected in hippocampus. In the diencephalon, dense hybridization labeled neurons in the ventral aspect of the medial habenular nucleus whereas cells in the lateral hypothalamic area and supramammillary region were more lightly labeled. Hybridization was most dense in neurons of the motor and autonomic cranial nerve nuclei including the oculomotor, Edinger-Westphal, and trochlear nuclei of the midbrain, the abducens, superior salivatory, trigeminal, facial and accessory facial nuclei of the pons, and the hypoglossal, vagus, and solitary nuclei and nucleus ambiguous of the medulla. In addition, numerous cells in the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei, the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, the medial and lateral divisions of the parabrachial nucleus, and the medial and lateral superior olive were labeled. Occasional labeled neurons were distributed in the giantocellular, intermediate, and parvocellular reticular nuclei, and the raphe magnus nucleus. In the medulla, light to moderately densely labeled cells were scattered in the nucleus of Probst's bundle, the medial vestibular nucleus, the lateral reticular nucleus, and the raphe obscurus nucleus. In spinal cord, the cRNA densely labeled motor neurons of the ventral horn, and cells in the intermediolateral column, surrounding the central canal, and in the spinal accessory nucleus. These results are in good agreement with reports of the immunohistochemical localization of ChAT and provide further evidence that cholinergic neurons are present within neocortex but not hippocampus.

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The inferior colliculus of GEPRs contains greater numbers of cells that express glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) mRNA.

Previous studies have shown significantly greater GABA levels and numbers of GABAergic neurons in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICCN) of genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-9s). In the present study, in situ hybridization and emulsion autoradiographic techniques were used to determine whether there are also elevated numbers of ICCN cells that contain the 67-kD form of mRNA for the GABA synthesizing enzyme, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), in GEPR-9s as compared to normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Hybridization with a 35S-labeled RNA probe complementary to a span of monkey GAD mRNA labeled cells throughout the brain including the ICCN. Labeled cells in the ICCN appeared to be of different sizes that corresponded with previous descriptions of GABAergic neurons from immunocytochemical studies. In the GEPR-9s, a larger number of GAD67 cRNA labeled neurons was observed in the ICCN as compared to SD rats. The external nucleus of the inferior colliculus was also found to contain significantly greater numbers of GAD67 cRNA labeled neurons whereas in the frontal cortex, a region of the brain that is not required for audiogenic seizure activity in GEPR-9s, there were no significant differences in hybridization between GEPR-9s and SD rats. Interestingly, within the superficial layers of the superior colliculus there was a higher density of hybridization in GEPR-9s than in SD rats indicating higher levels of GAD expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Cellular localization of transforming growth factor-alpha mRNA in rat forebrain.

The cellular localization of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) mRNA in juvenile and adult rat forebrain was examined using in situ hybridization with a 35S-labeled cRNA probe. TGF alpha cRNA-labeled neuronal perikarya were distributed across many forebrain regions including the olfactory bulb, caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, ventral pallidum, amygdala, hippocampal stratum granulosum and CA3 stratum pyramidale, and piriform, entorhinal, and retrosplenial cortices. TGF alpha cRNA-hybridizing cells were also localized to several thalamic nuclei and to the suprachiasmatic, dorsomedial, and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus. In addition, labeled cells were present in regions of white matter including the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, internal and external capsules, optic tract, and lateral olfactory tract. Thus, both neurons and glia appear to synthesize TGF alpha in normal brain. Hybridization densities were greater in neuronal fields at 2 weeks of age compared with the adult, suggesting a role for TGF alpha in the development of several forebrain systems. Our results demonstrating the prominent and wide-spread expression of TGF alpha mRNA in forebrain, combined with the extremely low abundance of epidermal growth factor mRNA in brain, support the argument that TGF alpha is the principal endogenous ligand for the epidermal growth factor receptor in normal brain.

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