Neuronal-glial interactions: complexity of neurite outgrowth correlates with substrate adhesivity of serotonergic neurons.
To study the interactions between neurons of known transmitter phenotype and non-neuronal cells of glial or fibroblastic origin, serotonergic (5-HT) neurons were tested for their strength of adhesion and neurite outgrowth patterns on substrates of astrocytes or fibroblasts using a cell adhesion assay for transmitter-identified neurons, and morphometry of immunocytochemically stained neurons in dissociated cell cultures. Both the strength of adhesion and the rate and complexity of neurite outgrowth by 5-HT neurons were significantly greater on substrates of astrocytes compared to fibroblasts. These results provide evidence that 5-HT neurons can interact selectively with glia via cell surface determinants, and that this process may be important for the development of complex (dendrite-like) neuritic arbors. The methods developed in this study will be useful for future studies of interactions between transmitter-identified neurons and glial cells during ontogeny of the embryonic brain.
Lieth
E
E
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 17599-7090.
McClay
D R
DR
Lauder
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*
D012701:Serotonin