Retinal ganglion cell axons drive the proliferation of astrocytes in the developing rodent optic nerve.
We show that the proliferation of astrocytes in the developing rodent optic nerve absolutely depends on axons and that this axonal influence depends on axonal transport but not on axonal electrical activity. We also show that purified retinal ganglion cells stimulate DNA synthesis in optic nerve astrocytes in culture and that the effect can be mimicked by fibroblast growth factor but not by neuregulins or several other growth factors. Taken together with previous findings, our present results indicate that axons promote glial cell proliferation and survival in the developing optic nerve by at least three distinct mechanisms.
Burne
J F
JF
MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and the Biology Department, University College London, United Kingdom.
Raff
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D002455:Cell Division; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020904:Glia Maturation Factor; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D020904:Glia Maturation Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D003078:Colchicine