title: Growth-associated protein-43 expression in cocultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons and skeletal muscle cells with different neurotrophins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both target skeletal muscle (SKM) cells and neurotrophins (NTs) are essential for the maintenance of neuronal function and nerve-muscle communication. The effects of different NTs and SKM cells on growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons have not been clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  The morphological relationship between DRG neurons and SKM cells in neuromuscular cocultures was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The levels of GAP-43 and its mRNA were determined after administration of different NTs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DRG neurons demonstrated dense neurite outgrowth in the presence of NTs. Distinct NTs promoted GAP-43 and its mRNA expression in neuromuscular cocultures of DRG neurons and SKM cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results offer new clues for a better understanding of the effects of distinct NTs on GAP-43 expression in DRG sensory neurons in the presence of target SKM cells and implicate NTs and target SKM cells in DRG neuronal regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Shandong University School of Medicine, 44 Wehua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong Province 250012, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Ziying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huangxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhenzhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor