Effect of bilateral decortication on nerve growth factor content in basal nucleus and neostriatum of adult rat brain.

The content of nerve growth factor (NGF) was measured by a sensitive two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the basal nucleus and neostriatum at various times following bilateral suction lesions of the cerebral neocortex in adult rats. At 14 and 29 postlesion days, NGF levels in basal nucleus were significantly elevated by 270 and 126%, respectively. In addition, 29 days after cortical lesions, NGF content in the neostriatum was increased 145% above controls. Thus, enhanced NGF production occurs in both basal nucleus and neostriatum of adult rats in response to antero- and/or retrograde neuronal degeneration.