Dynamic expression of Lhx8 in nerve growth factor induced hippocampal neuroregeneration

Objective To investigate the relationship between the nerve growth factor( NGF) induced hippocampal neuroregeneration and homeobox gene Lhx8. Methods Seventy-two SD rats were divided into control group,transected group,NGF group,transected combined with NGF group after right fimbria-fornix transection and NGF intracerebroventricular injection. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were applied to detect the gene and protein expression of Lhx8 in each group. The choline acetyltransferase( ChAT) /Lhx8 double labeled cells in subgranular zone( SGZ) of hippocampus in each group were detected by immunofluorescence. Results The expression of Lhx8 gene and protein in the transected,NGF group and especially in the transected combined with NGF group was obviously higher than in the control group. The number of ChAT /Lhx8 double labeled cells in the NGF group and the transected combined with NGF group was obviously more than in the control group and transected group. Conclusion The hippocampal neuroregeneration which induced by NGF intracerebroventricular injection was associated with the higher expression of Lhx8.