title: Characterization of the signaling interactions that promote the survival and growth of developing retinal ganglion cells in culture.
abstract: The signaling mechanisms that control the survival of CNS neurons are poorly understood. Here we show that, in contrast to PNS neurons, the survival of purified postnatal rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro is not promoted by peptide trophic factors unless their intracellular cAMP is increased pharmacologically or they are depolarized by K+ or glutamate agonists. Long-term survival of most RGCs in culture can be promoted by a combination of trophic factors normally produced along the visual pathway, including BDNF, CNTF, IGF1, an oligodendrocyte-derived protein, and forskolin. These results suggest that neurotransmitter stimulation and electrical activity enhance the survival of developing RGCs and raise the question of whether the survival control mechanisms of PNS and CNS neurons are different.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, California 94305-5401, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer-Franke
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Pfrieger
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Barres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000502:physiology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D005576:Colforsin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011188:Potassium