Nerve growth factor induces plasma extravasation in rat skin

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology

Background:

• Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays crucial roles in neuronal development and function.
• Vascular permeability is a key factor in inflammatory and physiological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor on vascular permeability.
• To determine the mechanisms underlying NGF-induced plasma extravasation.

Main Methods:

• Intradermal injection of mouse and bovine nerve growth factor in vivo.
• Assessment of vascular permeability using Evans blue extravasation.
• Evaluation of the effects of capsaicin pretreatment and histamine antagonists (H1 and H2).

Main Results:

• Intradermal nerve growth factor induced a dose-dependent increase in vascular permeability.
• Capsaicin pretreatment significantly reduced NGF-induced plasma extravasation.
• A combination of H1- and H2-histamine antagonists also markedly reduced plasma extravasation.
• Biologically inactive NGF did not elicit protein leakage, confirming the role of active NGF.

Conclusions:

• Biologically active nerve growth factor actively increases vascular permeability.
• The NGF-induced vascular leakage involves capsaicin-sensitive pathways and histamine receptors (H1 and H2).
• These findings highlight a novel physiological role for active NGF in modulating vascular integrity.