Neurite outgrowth from cerebral cortical neurons is promoted by medium conditioned over heart cells.
Seven day chick embryo cerebral cortical neurons cultured at low density (10,000 cells/16 mm well) in serum-free, defined medium in polylysine-coated wells fail to extend neurites and assume a flattened phase-dark morphology. Addition of serum-free, defined medium conditioned over chick embryo heart cells promotes neurite outgrowth and rounding of the cell body (which becomes phase bright). A sensitive bioassay, based on counting the number of phase-bright neurons with processes at least equal to one cell body diameter after 20 hours in culture, was used to titrate neurite-promoting activity in heart conditioned medium. This activity is completely destroyed by exposure to trypsin. As little as 2 micrograms/ml total conditioned medium protein elicits a half-maximal response in this bioassay.
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000032:analysis*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins