Endothelial cell influence on dorsal root ganglion cell formation.
Although endothelial cells are known to produce neutrotrophic factors, endothelial cell influence on growth and survival of ganglion cells has not been documented. For this reason, a long-term culture technique was modified to obtain dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. Cells, among them neurons, were released from clusters into the medium for more than four weeks. These cells were grown together with endothelial cells either (1) in close contact as contiguous co-culture, or (2) on porous inserts for non-contiguous co-culture, and, finally, (3) without endothelial cells for ganglion cell culture. Samples from the cultures were stained for the nuclear Ki-67-antigen to detect proliferating cells, and for neurofilaments (NF) to verify the presence of DRG cells with and without mitotic figures. The contiguous co-culture contained three times as many mitotic DRG cells as other culture set ups. Nerve growth factor had no mitotic effect on the different DRG cultures, although it supported the growth of endothelial cells. It is concluded that a subpopulation of DRG cells is easily harvested from long-term DRG cultures. These DRG cells undergo mitosis when in direct contact with endothelial cells.
Mompéo
Blanca
B
Institute of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 13, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Engele
Jürgen
J
Spanel-Borowski
Katharina
K
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015415:Biomarkers; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF
D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor