Calcitonin gene-related peptide identifies spinal motoneurons in vitro.
Cell dissociation of E6 chick spinal cord followed by isolation of larger low-density cells by using a discontinuous density metrizamide gradient resulted in the obtention of a motoneuron-enriched fraction of cells. These cells were cultured in the presence of horse serum and muscle extract for a period of 8 days and examined for the presence of calcitonin gene-related peptide. More than 90% of such cells were positive for calcitonin gene-related peptide. When E14 spinal cord was examined, calcitonin gene-related peptide was present only in the axons of primary sensory neurons and in the somas of motoneurons in the ventral horns. It is concluded that more than 90% of the neurons in our cultures are motoneurons.
Juurlink
B H
BH
Department of Anatomy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Munoz
D G
DG
Devon
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide