Macrowell cultures identify a subpopulation of neonatal rat dorsal root ganglionic neurons displaying nerve growth factor independent survival.
Dorsal root ganglionic (DRG) neurons of the newborn rat in vitro die by apoptosis within 24-48 h unless nerve growth factor (NGF) is added. Using a novel cell culture system (macrowell), we identified a neuronal subpopulation displaying NGF-independent survival in vitro. Neurons were grown on glass coverslips at standard cell density in different volumes of defined medium (standard: 500 microl; macrowell: 10 ml). In standard culture, 40% of neurons survived in the presence of NGF whereas there was no survival under control conditions. In macrowell culture, however, about 15% of neurons survived even in the absence of NGF. Addition of NGF to these cultures increased survival up to 65%. Neurons surviving independent of NGF in macrowell culture were heterogeneous in size and were lacking the low-affinity NGF receptor.
Wewetzer
K
K
Hannover Medical School, Center of Anatomy, Germany. wewetzer.konstantin@mh-hannover.de
Lausch
M
M
Christ
B
B
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor