Vasoactive intestinal peptide: a neurotrophic releasing agent and an astroglial mitogen.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increases neuronal survival in dissociated spinal cord cultures during a critical period of development. In the present study, two mechanisms contributing to this action of VIP have been observed: 1) VIP was shown to be a secretagogue for neuron survival-promoting activity; and 2) VIP was found to be an astroglial mitogen. A high molecular weight substance (greater than 30 kDa), which increased neuronal survival in tetrodotoxin (TTX)-treated spinal cord cultures, was detected in the medium from nonneuronal cells incubated for 1 hr with 0.1 nM VIP. In addition, 3H-thymidine autoradiography and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) immunocytochemistry were used to show that a 5 day treatment with (VIP) increased astroglial mitosis. This effect was specific for astroglia, as silver grain-positive cells not exhibiting GFAP immunoreactivity did not increase in number after VIP treatment. The dual action of VIP may regulate glial-derived trophic substances that are important for neuronal survival during the course of development.
Brenneman
D E
DE
Unit on Neurochemistry, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Nicol
T
T
Warren
D
D
Bowers
L M
LM
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013936:Thymidine; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013936:Thymidine