In vivo function of NGF/TrkA signaling in the cholinergic neurons of the murine basal forebrain

The neurotrophins are a family of secreted proteins that potently
regulate diverse neuronal responses. The neurotrophin nerve growth
factor (NGF) and its receptors TrkA and p75 are well characterized
to control survival, differentiation and function of many neurons
in the peripheral nervous system. The function of NGF/TrkA
signaling in the central nervous system (CNS) is less well
analyzed. In the CNS all cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain
are NGF-responsive. In this work a genetic mouse model is presented
in which NGF/TrkA signaling is specifically deleted from the
cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. This model demonstrates
that NGF/TrkA signaling is essential for the cholinergic
differentiation of many neurons in the basal forebrain. In
addition, it is shown that the deletion of TrkA signaling modulates
the processing of the amyloid precursor protein APP in the basal
forebrain.