title: Riluzole promotes cell survival and neurite outgrowth in rat sensory neurones in vitro.
abstract: This study explored the effects of riluzole administration on cell survival and neurite growth in adult and neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones in vitro. Neuronal survival was assessed by comparing numbers of remaining neurones in vehicle- and riluzole-treated cultures. A single dose of 0.1 microm riluzole was sufficient to promote neuronal survival in neonatal DRG cultures, whereas repeated riluzole administration was necessary in adult cultures. However, a single administration of riluzole was sufficient to induce neuritogenesis, promote neurite branching and enhance neurite outgrowth in both neonatal and adult DRG cultures. The effects of a single dose of riluzole on adult DRG neurones after peripheral nerve or dorsal root injury were also studied in vitro at 48 h. For both types of injury, riluzole enhanced neurite outgrowth in terms of number, length and branch pattern significantly more on the injured side as compared with the contralateral side. No effect was seen on cell survival. The results suggest that, in addition to its cell survival effects, riluzole has novel growth-promoting effects on sensory neurones in vitro and that riluzole may offer a new way to promote sensory afferent regeneration following peripheral injury.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Centre, Institute of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Bart's and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK. p.j.shortland@qmul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shortland
authors.forename: Veronica H L
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Leinster
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Lesley G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Robson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019782:Riluzole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014404:Tubulin; D019782:Riluzole