title: Trophic influences of alpha-MSH and ACTH4-10 on neuronal outgrowth in vitro.
abstract: Slices of foetal spinal cords in culture were used to establish possible trophic effects of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and a fragment of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH4-10) on the outgrowth of neurites from spinal neurons. The spinal cord slices were treated with peptides over a wide concentration range. Using monoclonal antibodies against (subunits of) neurofilament followed by immunofluorescence, we could show that the extension consisted mainly of axons. After 5 and 7 days, outgrowth was quantified with 2 different techniques, namely by visual scoring under phase contrast and by means of an ELISA for neurofilament protein. Both methods yielded the same dose-response profile. Both alpha-MSH and ACTH4-10 stimulated the formation of neurites in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal stimulatory effect at 0.001-0.01 nM (ACTH4-10) or 0.1-1.0 nM (alpha-MSH). The maximal effect of the peptides was 30-40% compared to controls. We conclude that alpha-MSH and ACTH4-10 stimulate axonal outgrowth from foetal spinal cord slices in vitro in a dose-dependent way.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory Neurology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van der Neut
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bär
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sodaar
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gispen
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; C011394:ACTH (4-10)