Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) stimulates purkinje cell dendrite growth in culture.
Previous reports described the transient expression during development of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in rodent cerebellar climbing fibers and CGRP receptor in astrocytes. Here, mixed cerebellar cultures were used to analyze the effects of CGRP on Purkinje cells growth. Our results show that CGRP stimulated Purkinje cell dendrite growth under cell culture conditions mimicking Purkinje cell development in vivo. The stimulation was not blocked by CGRP8-37, a specific antagonist, suggesting the activation of other related receptors. CGRP did not affect survival of Purkinje cells, granule cells or astrocytes. The selective expression of Receptor Component Protein (RCP) (a component of CGRP receptor family) in astrocytes points to a role of these cells as mediators of CGRP effect. Finally, in pure cerebellar astrocyte cultures CGRP induced a transient morphological differentiation from flat, polygonal to stellate form. It is concluded that CGRP influences Purkinje cell dendrite growth in vitro, most likely through the involvement of astrocytes.
Institute of Neurological Sciences, CNR, Catania, Italy.
Simona
S
D'Antoni
Laura
L
Zambusi
Franca
F
Codazzi
Daniele
D
Zacchetti
Fabio
F
Grohovaz
Luciano
L
Provini
Maria Vincenza
MV
Catania
Stefano
S
Morara
D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects*; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide