Nerve growth factor regulates synaptophysin expression in developing trigeminal ganglion neurons in vitro

The role of neuronal growth factors in synaptic maturation of sensory neurons, including trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons, remains poorly understood. Here, we show that nerve growth factor (NGF) regulates the intracellular distribution of the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin (Syp) in newborn rat TG neurons in vitro. While reducing the number of Syp-positive cell bodies, NGF dramatically increases Syp immunoreactivity in both proximal and distal segments of the neurite. Intriguingly, the increase in Syp immunoreactivity occurs only in neuron-enriched cultures, in which the number of non-neuronal cells is significantly reduced. Together, our data indicate that NGF is a candidate molecule involved in early postnatal maturation of TG neurons, including control of presynaptic assembly, and thereby formation of synaptic connections.