title: Effects of neurotrophic factors on chemokinesis of Schwann cells in culture.
abstract: Schwann cells are support cells in the peripheral nervous system and are responsible for migration, adhesion, production of the extracellular matrix, and myelination. Migration is considered to be essential for nerve regeneration after transsection. We have examined the chemokinetic effects of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain derived growth factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on Schwann cells in vitro using a chemotaxis chamber. The chemokinetic activity of Schwann cells was strongly accelerated by NGF, but was not influenced by BDNF. NT-3 at a concentration of 1 ng/ml had a stimulatory effect on chemokinesis. These data suggest that NGF is a chemoattractant for Schwann cells in vitro. Giving exogenous NGF might stimulate both migration of Schwann cells and the formation of Büngner's bands after peripheral nerve injuries in animal models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Shimane, Japan. smaniwa@shimane-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sokichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maniwa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor