Effect of neuregulin-1 on the auditory cortex in adult C57BL/6J mice

Objective(s): We sought to explore whether neuregulin-1(NRG1) would have a protective effect on the auditory cortices of adult C57BL/6J mice. Materials and Methods: We used RTPCR and Western blot (WB) to detect the expression of NRG1 and ERBB4 (the receptor of NRG1) in the auditory cortices of C57BL/6J mice of different ages (6–8 weeks and 42–44 weeks). Three groups of 42–44 week-old C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with mouse neurotrophic factor (m-NGF), NRG1, or saline for two months. We observed the ultrastructures of the auditory cortices of adult mice after treatment using transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, we observed expression of NRG1 in the auditory cortices by immunohistochemistry. Results: Expression of NRG1 and ERBB4 in the auditory cortices of C57BL/6J mice at the age of 42–44 weeks was lower compared with 6–8 week-old mice. The ultra-structures of the auditory cortices, including the neurons and myelin sheaths, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy were healthier in the m-NGF and NRG1 treatment groups than those in the saline group. We found that expression of NRG1 in the auditory cortices after treatment in the m-NGF and NRG1 groups, especially in the NRG1 group, was higher than that in the saline group. Conclusion: We concluded that with increasing age, NRG1 in the auditory cortices of C57BL/6J mice gradually decreased, and that NRG1 had a protective effect on the auditory cortices in adult C57BL/J mice.