Evidence for an NGF-induced autocrine neurotrophic potential of glial cells in nervous system development.
NGF receptor bearing peripheral glial cells, purified from chicken embryo dorsal root ganglia, were found to secrete neurite growth promoting activity (NGPA) but no NGF (detection limit 1 pM). If, however, minute concentrations of NGF (2 pM) were added to the glial cultures, an autocrine response was observed. Levels of NGF-like activity in the medium rose up to 50-fold. Induction of this autocrine response occured within a narrow range of NGF concentrations. NGPA production was not affected by addition of NGF. Coculture with neurons influenced the neurotrophic factor production. The data suggest that glial cells can "sense" traces of NGF and regulate its availability during neural development.
Zimmermann
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Pharmakologisches Institut der FU Berlin, FRG.
Sutter
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Stephani
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D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002642:Chick Embryo; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; C047805:neurite-inducing factor