title: A "calcium set-point hypothesis" of neuronal dependence on neurotrophic factor.
abstract: In this commentary, we discuss evidence suggesting that cytoplasmic free calcium concentration determines neurotrophic factor dependence. Developing sympathetic and neural crest-derived sensory neurons require nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival both in vivo and in vitro. Chronic depolarization of these cells in culture causes a modest sustained elevation of cytoplasmic calcium concentration and promotes their survival in the absence of NGF. The amount of calcium increase caused by depolarization is closely correlated with the ability of the cells to survive in NGF-free medium. At an optimal calcium concentration, that we refer to as a "set point," survival is equivalent to that of cells grown in the presence of NGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D002118:Calcium