Background: Nerve growth factor (NGF) up-regulation during inflammation has been demonstrated to occur in several different tissues. Herein, the expression of aortic nerve growth factor and its association with nerve sprouting in a rodent model of self-limited peritonitis were investigated.
Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized into one of three groups: gastric perforation (GP), sham group, and GP group treated with methylprednisolone (GP-M). Aortic expression of NGF and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) were evaluated at several different time points (range, 6 h to 2 wk) after GP or sham.
Results: Compared with the sham group, expression of NGF was significantly elevated during the inflammatory period (the first week post-GP) in GP rats. The GP group also had enhanced nerve sprouting, which persisted after the peritonitis recovered. Methylprednisolone abrogated NGF up-regulation and nerve sprouting induced by GP.
Conclusions: GP resulted in up-regulation of aortic NGF that coincided with aortic nerve sprouting. Methylprednisolone effectively blocked GP-induced NGF up-regulation. Further studies are necessary to decipher the causality of these observed changes.
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