Induction of memory-associated immediate early genes by nerve growth factor in rat primary cortical neurons and differentiated mouse Neuro2A cells.

Activation of several immediate early genes (IEGs) is crucial for long-term memory formation in vivo. In vitro methods of inducing these genes have not been investigated extensively. Here we present data demonstrating that application of the neurotrophin, nerve growth factor (NGF), to both rat primary neuronal cultures and differentiated mouse neuroblastoma 2A (N2A) cultures reliably induces expression of several IEGs, including Zif268, Nur77 and Arc, each of which have been linked to memory consolidation. These findings provide an in vitro model in which to test other agents that might modulate the induction of memory-associated genes.