Isolated growth cones stimulate proliferation of cultured Schwann cells.
A growth cone-enriched fraction was prepared from 3-4 day rat cerebra. Examination of the growth cone fraction by electron microscopy revealed numerous structures circular in appearance that contain a number of features common to neuronal growth cones in vivo. The isolated growth cones stimulated a dose-dependent incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into cultured Schwann cells in a manner similar to that observed with an axolemma-enriched fraction prepared from adult rat brainstem. The mitogenic activities of both the growth cone fraction and axolemma-enriched fraction were decreased 50% and 20%, respectively, by treatment with heparitinase I. The mitogen for Schwann cells present in the isolated growth cones appears to be similar to that found in axolemma-enriched fractions prepared from adult rats.
Dent
E W
EW
Department of Psychology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York 13346.
Ida
J A
JA
Yoshino
J E
JE
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D006133:Growth Substances