Cell death of neonatal rat sensory neurons is prevented by culture at clonal density.
We studied the trophic requirements of neonatal rat sensory neurons in single neuron and standard culture (9400 neurons/cm2). In agreement with previous studies, we found that survival of sensory neurons in standard culture is strictly dependent on nerve growth factor (NGF). Contrary to this, however, no difference between NGF-treated and untreated cultures with respect to survival and neurite formation was evident when neurons were plated as single cells. Approximately 70% of singly-seeded sensory neurons survived for 2 days independent of supply with NGF. Survival of large, mid-sized, and small sensory neurons in single neuron culture demonstrated that this phenomenon is not confined to a neuronal subpopulation. We speculate that survival in single neuron culture is due to the absence or inactivation of yet unidentified cell death-inducing factors that in standard culture are overridden or suppressed by NGF.
Lausch
M
M
Institute of Anatomy II, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Christ
B
B
Wewetzer
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002452:Cell Count; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors