Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and urocortin promote the survival of cultured cerebellar GABAergic neurons through the type 1 CRF receptor.
Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is known to be involved in the stress response and in some degenerative brain disorders. In addition, CRF has a role as a neuromodulator in adult cerebellar circuits. Data from developmental studies suggest a putative role for CRF as a trophic factor during cerebellar development. In this study, we investigated the trophic role for CRF family of peptides by culturing cerebellar neurons in the presence of CRF, urocortin or urocortin II. Primary cell cultures of cerebella from embryonic day 18 mice were established, and cells were treated for either 1, 5 or 9 days with Basal Medium Eagles complete medium alone or complete medium with 1 microM CRF, urocortin, or urocortin II. The number of GABA-positive neurons in each treatment condition was counted at each culture age for monitoring the changes in neuronal survival. Treatment with 1 microM CRF or 1 microM urocortin increased the survival of GABAergic neurons at 6 days in vitro and 10 days in vitro, and this survival promoting effect was abolished by treatment with astressin in the presence of those peptides. Based on these data, we suggest that CRF or urocortin has a trophic role promoting the survival of cerebellar GABAergic neurons in cultures.
Choi
Jae-Sun
JS
Department of Anatomy, Center for Molecular Medicine, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Pham
Thao Thi Hien
TT
Jang
Yoon-Jin
YJ
Bui
Bao Chi
BC
Lee
Bong-Hee
BH
Joo
Kyeong-Min
KM
Cha
Choong-Ik
CI
Lee
Kyung-Hoon
KH
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D054832:Urocortins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
D010455:Peptides; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins; C518358:urocortin 2, mouse; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone