title: Growth pattern and NGF-dependent survival of dorsal root ganglia neurons of distinct glyco-phenotype.
abstract: Cell-surface glyco-phenotypes of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons were specified with monoclonal antibodies (mABs) D1 and E1. D1 demarcated sensory afferents in skin but not muscle target. More than 90% of the drg neurons supported by nerve growth factor (NGF) in vitro were D1 positive (D1+). A fraction of these D1+ neurons, those of small to intermediate soma size, coexpressed a PNGase-sensitive glycoepitope E1, defined by mAB E1. In situ and in vitro, E1+/D1+ and E1-/D1+ neurons and nerve fibers were affiliated. After separation of the two glyco-phenotypes, NGF-dependent survival of E1-/D1+ neurons was no longer observed. Two interrelated concepts emerge from these findings: (a) NGFs survival functions for cutaneous sensory neurons are in part indirect and appear to be based on interneuronal cooperation for survival; and (b) interneuronal survival dependencies are likely to be a decisive factor governing nerve fiber assemblages.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratories, Cellular Development Group, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Postfach, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006031:Glycosylation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000737:chemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D006017:Glycolipids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors