Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protective factor of neural cells; the possible relationship between the NGF and the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) hasn’t been completely known. In this study, we observed and analyzed the expression and distribution of NGF, as well as the possible relationship between the NGF expression and distribution and the neural cell death in both SOD1 wild-type (WT) and Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur (TG) mice applying the fluorescence immunohistochemistry method. The results showed that the expression and distribution of NGF in the anterior horn (AH), the lateral horn (LH), and the surrounding central canal (CC) significantly increased at the supper early stage of ALS (Pre-onset stage) and the early stage (Onset stage), but the NGF expression and distribution in the AH, the LH, and the surrounding CC significantly reduced at the progression stage. The astrocyte, neuron, and oligodendrocyte produced the NGF and the neural precursor cells (NPCs) produced the NGF. The neural cell death gradually increased accompanying with the reduction of NGF expression and distribution. Our data suggested that the NGF was a protective factor of neural cells, because the neural cells in the AH, the LH, and the surrounding CC produced more NGF at the supper early and early stage of ALS; moreover, the NPCs produced the NGF. It implied that the NGF exerted the protective effect of neural cells, prevented from the neural cell death and aroused the potential of self-repair in the development of ALS.

神经生长因子（NGF）是神经细胞的保护因子；NGF 与肌萎缩侧索硬化症 (ALS) 发病机制之间的可能关系尚未完全清楚。本研究观察分析了 SOD1 野生型 (WT) 和 Tg(SOD1*G93A)1Gur 中 NGF 的表达和分布，以及 NGF 的表达和分布与神经细胞死亡的可能关系。 TG) 小鼠应用荧光免疫组织化学方法。结果表明，在肌萎缩侧索硬化的超早期（Pre-onset stage）和晚期，前角（AH）、侧角（LH）和周围中央管（CC）中NGF的表达和分布显着增加。早期（发病期），但NGF在AH、LH、并且在进展阶段周围的CC显着减少。星形胶质细胞、神经元和少突胶质细胞产生 NGF，神经前体细胞 (NPC) 产生 NGF。随着NGF表达和分布的减少，神经细胞死亡逐渐增加。我们的数据表明NGF是神经细胞的保护因子，因为在ALS的晚餐早期和早期，AH、LH和周围CC的神经细胞产生更多的NGF；此外，NPC 产生了 NGF。提示NGF发挥神经细胞保护作用，防止神经细胞死亡，激发ALS发生发展的自我修复潜力。随着NGF表达和分布的减少，神经细胞死亡逐渐增加。我们的数据表明NGF是神经细胞的保护因子，因为在ALS的晚餐早期和早期，AH、LH和周围CC的神经细胞产生更多的NGF；此外，NPC 产生了 NGF。提示NGF发挥神经细胞保护作用，防止神经细胞死亡，激发ALS发生发展的自我修复潜力。随着NGF表达和分布的减少，神经细胞死亡逐渐增加。我们的数据表明NGF是神经细胞的保护因子，因为在ALS的晚餐早期和早期，AH、LH和周围CC的神经细胞产生更多的NGF；此外，NPC 产生了 NGF。提示NGF发挥神经细胞保护作用，防止神经细胞死亡，激发ALS发生发展的自我修复潜力。NPC 产生了 NGF。提示NGF发挥神经细胞保护作用，防止神经细胞死亡，激发ALS发生发展的自我修复潜力。NPC 产生了 NGF。提示NGF发挥神经细胞保护作用，防止神经细胞死亡，激发ALS发生发展的自我修复潜力。