Nitrative stress impairs pro nerve growth factor transport in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons via c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation

BFCNs were treated with SIN-1, a peroxynitrite generator, CC401, a JNK inhibitor, or L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, prior to analysis of axonal transport. JNK activity was quantified via immunocytochemistry.

In vitro aging decreased retrograde transport of proNGF. Age-induced proNGF transport deficits were rescued by L-NAME and CC401. L-NAME reduced levels of activated JNK in aged BFCNs, SIN-1 increased JNK activation in young BFCNs, and SIN-1-induced proNGF transport deficits were rescued by CC401.