title: Retinoic acid as a survival factor in neuronal development of the grasshopper, Locusta migratoria.
abstract: Based on experience with cell cultures of adult insect neurons, we develop a serum-free culture system for embryonic locust neurons. Influences of trophic substances on survival and neurite outgrowth of developing neurons are investigated. For the first time, a positive trophic effect of 9-cis retinoic acid (9-cis RA) was shown in vitro on embryonic neurons of an insect. We observed longer cell survival of 50 % developmental stage neurons in cultures supplemented with 0.3 nM 9-cis RA. Furthermore, an influence on neuron morphology was revealed, as the addition of 9-cis RA to cell culture medium led to an increase in the number of neurites per cell. Although an RA receptor gene, LmRXR (Locusta migratoria retinoid X receptor), was expressed in the central nervous system throughout development, the influence of 9-cis RA on neuronal survival and outgrowth was restricted to 50 % stage embryonic cells.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie II (Zoologie), RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 3, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jeyathevy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sukiban
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bräunig
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mey
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bui-Göbbels
mesh_terms: D000077556:Alitretinoin; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000077556:Alitretinoin; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D014212:Tretinoin