Abstract
The response of trunk neural crest cells taken from precise levels of the neural axis and cultured together with adjacent somites to Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), was examined in cultures grown in a chemically defined medium. In control cultures, the number of neural crest-derived neurons expressing the HNK-1 epitope, increased as a function of somitic level in a caudorostral direction. Treatment of cultures with increasing concentrations of BDNF (50 pg/ml to 1 ng/ml) resulted in a 1.5- to 6-fold stimulation in the number of neurons developing from crest cells excised at advanced and post-migratory stages, whereas early migrating crest cells were responsive only to concentrations equal to or higher than 1 ng/ml of BDNF. Nerve growth factor used at 5 and 30 ng/ml had no effect on survival of HNK-1-positive cells at any of the somitic levels tested. In an attempt to identify the subpopulation of HNK-1-immunoreactive neurons responding to BDNF, control and treated cultures were stained for the HNK-1 antibody in combination with substance P (SP) antibodies (as a marker for sensory neurons). SP immunoreactivity localized to a subpopulation of phase-bright, HNK-1-positive neurons. The absolute number of SP-positive neurons increased 2- to 4-fold upon BDNF treatment; however, their relative proportion within the population expressing the HNK-1 epitope remained essentially unchanged from control to treated cultures (on day 1, 20% as compared to 23.3% and on day 2, 44.6% compared to 49.7% for control and treated cultures, respectively). Taken together, these data suggest that BDNF stimulates primary neuronal differentiation of SP expressing neurons, and/or their survival.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | 79-86 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Developmental Brain Research |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jun 1988 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
- Nerve growth factor
- Neural crest
- Peripheral nervous system
- Sensory ganglion
- Substance P