Climbing fiber deafferentation reduces insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) content in cerebellum

The presence of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and its mRNA in adult rat cerebellum has recently been documented. Previous immunocytochemical studies showed prominent IGF-I-like staining in fibers around Purkinje cell somas. To determine the origin of this IGF-I input to the Purkinje cell we destroyed the inferior olivary complex by either 3-acetylpiridine administration or electrolytical lesions. In both types of lesions we found a similar significant depletion of IGF-I levels in cerebellum (40-50% of controls). No changes were found in cerebellar IGF-I receptors. These results suggest that almost half of the IGF-I content in cerebellum is provided by climbing fiber afferents arising from the inferior olivary complex.