title: Gap junctions modulate survival-promoting effects of fibroblast growth factor-2 on cultured midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) support survival of dopaminergic midbrain neurons. Neurons are coupled by gap junctions, propagating metabolites and intracellular second messengers possibly mediating growth factor effects. We asked, therefore, whether gap junctions influence the survival-promoting effects of FGF-2 and GDNF. RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry demonstrate that FGF-2 but not GDNF upregulates cx43 mRNA and immunoreactivity in rat embryonic day 14 midbrain cultures, whereas cx26, cx32, and cx45 were unchanged. In addition, functional coupling as assayed by the spread of neurobiotin was increased by FGF-2. Furthermore, the gap junction blocker oleamide abolished survival-promoting effects of FGF-2 on dopaminergic midbrain neurons. Together, these results support a direct role of gap junction communication for survival-promoting effects of FGF-2 on dopaminergic midbrain neurons, making gap junction communication a substantial parameter for neuron survival.
authors.affiliation: Neuroanatomy and Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: SiuYi Leung
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unsicker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reuss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D018031:Connexin 43; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009829:Oleic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C029407:oleylamide; D004298:Dopamine