title: Motoneuron survival in vitro: effects of pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, gangliosides and potassium.
abstract: When grown in a serum and muscle extract containing medium, about 20% of chick motoneurons survived for one week. The presence of pyruvate during the first hour of culture doubles the number of motoneurons that survive. The subsequent addition of 5 mM alpha-ketoglutarate, 10-20 mM potassium, or 100 microM GM1 ganglioside results in a further increase in motoneurons surviving. These effects of alpha-ketoglutarate, potassium and GM1 ganglioside are not additive. Using such compounds in the culture medium, one can have a three-fold increase in the survival of motoneurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Juurlink
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019289:Pyruvic Acid
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; D007656:Ketoglutaric Acids; D011773:Pyruvates; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D011188:Potassium