Loss of p75 nerve growth factor receptor mRNA containing neurons in rat forebrain after intraventricular IgG 192-saporin administration

Cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain express the p75 (low affinity) nerve growth factor receptor (NGFr) on the cell surface. It has been previously shown that an immunotoxin that recognizes the p75 NGFr, IgG 192-saporin, eliminates these neurons as judged by a variety of techniques after intraventricular injection into rat brain. Here we show that this loss of neurons can also be identified by detecting the disappearance of the p75 NGFr mRNA utilizing a non-radioactive in situ hybridization method.