Nerve growth factor enhances central synaptic function of Ia sensory neurons

Daily treatment of neonatal rats with nerve growth factor (NGF) significantly enhanced monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked in spinal motoneurons by muscle afferent volleys. A few weeks after crush of a muscle nerve, the EPSPs elicited by afferent volleys from the muscle nerve were markedly depressed. This synaptic depression could be partly prevented by daily application of NGF. It is concluded that central synaptic function of Ia sensory neurons is responsive to exogenous NGF in postnatal animals.