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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Isolation of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Rodent Embryos for use with Dissected Cerebral Cortical Explants
Published on: March 11, 2013
Infusion of anti-nerve growth factor into the cisternum magnum of chick embryo leads to decrease cell production in
1Department of Biology, The University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. umistbiology@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract:
There has been considerable recent progress in understanding the processes involved in cerebral cortical development. Several mitogenic and trophic factors have been implicated in the processes of cortical cell proliferation and differentiation. Anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody was administered to 15 days chick foetuses through the cisternum magnum. Control group received phosphate buffered saline (PBS). To identify cells born in the cerebral cortex at the time of antibody or PBS injection, 5'-bromo-2'- deoxyuridine was administered to the foetuses by intravenous injection into an outlying vein using micromanipulation. After injection, the foetuses were re-incubated for another 3 days. All the foetuses were collected on day 18, the brains fixed in paraformaldehyde, cut with a microtome and stained with methyl green pyronin and anti-NGF antibody. Quantitative measurements showed that the thickness of the germinal epithelium (GE) and cerebral cortex in the anti-NGF antibody injected foetuses was decreased when compared with normal control embryos. The number of cells produced in the GE of antibody injected foetuses was decreased when compared with normal control embryos. The results from this study using neutralizing antibody suggests that NGF is an important factor in cerebral cortical development, stimulating neuronal precursor proliferation.
Insights
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is crucial for developing chick brains. Blocking NGF with an antibody reduced cerebral cortex thickness and cell production, indicating its role in neuronal precursor proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Embryology
Background:
- Cerebral cortical development involves complex processes influenced by various growth factors.
- Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a key neurotrophic factor with potential roles in neuronal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of NGF in embryonic cerebral cortical development.
- To determine if NGF influences neuronal precursor proliferation and differentiation during cortical development.
Main Methods:
- Administration of anti-NGF antibody to 15-day chick fetuses.
- In vivo labeling of newly born cells using 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU).
- Quantitative analysis of cerebral cortex thickness and germinal epithelium cell counts.
Main Results:
- Anti-NGF antibody treatment significantly decreased cerebral cortex thickness.
- A reduction in the number of cells produced in the germinal epithelium was observed in antibody-treated fetuses.
- These findings suggest NGF promotes neuronal precursor proliferation.
Conclusions:
- NGF plays a significant role in stimulating neuronal precursor proliferation during cerebral cortical development.
- Neutralizing NGF function negatively impacts embryonic brain development, specifically cortical growth.
