title: Platelet-derived nerve growth factor supports the survival of cholinergic neurons in organotypic rat brain slices.
abstract: Platelets play a role in repair of vessels and contain different growth factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF). Since NGF is the most potent growth factor to support survival of cholinergic neurons, we aimed to study the effects of platelet-derived NGF on cholinergic neurons in organotypic brain slices. Brain slices of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nBM) were cultured with or without NGF (10ng/ml) or platelet extracts (100μg/ml) or fresh platelets (10(8) platelets/ml). In order to enhance NGF in platelets recombinant NGF (100ng) was loaded into platelets using ultrasound (3h). Our data show that recombinant NGF markedly supports survival of cholinergic neurons. The addition of fresh platelets showed a tendency for enhancing cholinergic neuron numbers, while platelet extracts had no effects. Ultrasound was highly effective to load recombinant NGF into platelets. The addition of NGF-loaded platelets markedly enhanced cholinergic neuron numbers. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that NGF-derived platelets may counteract cell death of cholinergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatry and Exp. Alzheimer Resaerch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Kathrin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kniewallner
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatry and Exp. Alzheimer Resaerch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatry and Exp. Alzheimer Resaerch, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: christian.humpel@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Humpel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020532:Basal Nucleus of Meynert / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D059329:Cholinergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Cholinergic neurons; Nerve growth factor; Neuroprotection; Platelets