Nerve growth factor applications fail to alter behavior of hippocampal-lesioned rats

Rats were given one-stage, bilateral hippocampal lesions. Some of these animals were also administered approximately 2400 BU of 7S Nerve Growth Factor at the time of the operation. Other animals were administered a saline solution. Applications were made directly to the lesioned brain tissue. All rats were tested on two spatial mazes on postoperative days 49 and 50. No behavioral differences were noted as a function of NGF application; all hippocampal-lesioned rats displayed impaired spatial maze acquisition. The effect of NGF on the development of lesion-induced anomalous noradrenergic innervaion was examined with a modified glyoxylic acid technique. It was not possible to discern a consistent difference in fluorescence as a function of NGF application.