Neurotrophic action of gliostatin on cocultured neurons with glial cells.
Gliostatin is a polypeptide factor (apparent M(r) = 100 k with a homodimeric structure comprising two 50 kDa subunits) acting on cortical neurons (neurotrophic action) as well as astrocytic cells (growth inhibition). Under the coculture system of cerebral cortical neurons and astrocytes from fetal rats (E15 or E16), the neurotrophic action of gliostatin was examined immunocytochemically. Immunostaining by an anti-neurofilament (NF) monoclonal antibody visualized a marked neurite-outgrowth and interconnecting bundles of neuritic processes induced by gliostatin in the coculture system. Neurons stimulated by gliostatin formed dense aggregates in clumps, while neurons in control coculture spread out. Gliostatin has also shown survival-promoting effects on neurons. Furthermore, it was shown that gliostatin induced the differentiation of protoplasmic astrocytes to fibrous astrocytes. These results further support our previous contention that gliostatin plays physiological roles on neuronal and glial development.
Ueki
T
T
Department of Bioregulation Research, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
Nakanishi
K
K
Asai
K
K
Okouchi
Y
Y
Isobe
I
I
Eksioglu
Y Z
YZ
Kato
T
T
Kohno
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase