title: Reissner's fibre supports the survival of chick cortical neurons in primary mixed cultures.
abstract: Reissner's fibre, a thread-like structure present in the central canal of the spinal cord, is a product of the condensation of specific glycoproteins that are released by specialized ependymal cells into the cerebrospinal fluid. These secretory ependymocytes constitute the subcommissural organ, a circumventricular organ that lines the roof of the third ventricle of the brain. The subcommissural organ/Reissner's fibre complex is a permanent structure in the vertebrate central nervous system. The addition of bovine Reissner's fibre itself or of soluble material released by Reissner's fibre to primary mixed cultures of chick cerebral cortical cells markedly enhances neuronal survival. The responsive cells have been identified as neurons by labelling them with antibodies to neurofilament proteins. This neuronal survival effect is dose-dependent and does not require the presence of serum in the culture medium. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies raised against bovine Reissner's fibre partially block the effect of Reissner's fibre on neuronal survival. These results suggest that Reissner's fibre is involved in developmental processes of the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Unité INSERM U 384, Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri Dunant, BP 38, F-63001 Clermont-Ferrand cedex, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monnerie
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boespflug-Tanguy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dastugue
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meiniel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D012995:Solubility; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013351:Subcommissural Organ / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins