title: NGF, bFGF and CNTF increase survival of major pelvic ganglion neurons cultured from the adult rat.
abstract: The responsiveness of cultured major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons, isolated from adult rats, to nerve growth factor (NGF), basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) and ciliary neuronotrophic factor (CNTF) was tested using in vitro survival assay. MPG neurons respond to NGF with increased survival (+35 +/- 13.3%, mean +/- S.E.), a response completely blocked by antibodies specific to NGF. bFGF (+85 +/- 9.6%) and CNTF (+10.5 +/- 0.5%) also augment survival of MPG neurons in vitro. The effect of bFGF was partially blocked by bFGF antibody. Anti-NGF antibody reduced neuronal survival by 25 +/- 4.1% in conditioned medium from cultures of bladder smooth muscle, suggesting bladder produces NGF. Combining antibodies against NGF and bFGF reduced survival by 19 +/- 0.5% in medium supplemented with bladder extracts, suggesting the extracts contain neurotrophic activity in addition to NGF. These results support the hypothesis that neurons regulating bladder function respond to NGF and other growth factors. Therefore, previously documented changes in bladder neurotrophic factors following hypertrophy, inflammation and injury may elicit growth or change in the autonomic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Tuttle
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mackey
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Steers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2