Ciliary neurotrophic factor, unlike nerve growth factor, supports neurite outgrowth but not synapse formation by adult Lymnaea neurons.
The nerve growth factor (NGF) family and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) support survival and/or neurite outgrowth of many cell types. However, it is not known whether the neurite outgrowth induced by neurotrophic factors results in the formation of synapses. We tested NGF and CNTF for their ability to induce neurite outgrowth and synapse formation in vitro by interneurons from the mollusc Lymnaea. Dopaminergic and peptidergic interneurons survived in the absence of neurotrophic factors but exhibited robust outgrowth in response to both NGF and CNTF. Chemical synapses formed between these interneurons and their target neurons cultured in NGF, but synapses were absent in CNTF. Survival, neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis are therefore differentially regulated in these neurons.
Neuroscience Research Group, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
N
N
Syed
P
P
Richardson
A
A
Bulloch
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D007395:Interneurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D004298:Dopamine