Interactions of Thyroid Hormones, Nerve Growth Factor and Its Receptors in Development and Plasticity of the Rat Olfactory Bulb

Abstract

125 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1997.Hypothyroidism decreased levels of olfactory bulb NGF, while up-regulating NGF receptors, p75\sp{\rm NTR} and trkA in the glomerular region. We propose that decreased bulbar NGF results in decreased trophic support for specific NGF responsive cells, leading to compensatory up-regulation of NGF receptors which compete for the limited supply of NGF. Thyroid hormone recovery restores levels of NGF and its receptors, leading to compensatory resumption of olfactory bulb tissue growth. Our findings present strong evidence for exceptional growth plasticity in the rat olfactory system, lasting beyond the normal development period. This plasticity may be mediated, in part, by regulatory and compensatory changes in the neurotrophin NGF and its receptors.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD