The GDNF-induced neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival in dissociated myenteric plexus cultures of the rat small intestine decreases postnatally |
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Authors: | K-H Schäfer Pedro Mestres |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Anatomy, University of Saarland, D-66421 Homburg-Saar, Germany e-mail: ankhsc@med-rz.uni-sb.de Tel.: +49-6841-166108, Fax: +49-6841-166121, DE |
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Abstract: | Glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a member of the transforming growth-factor- (TGF-) β-family, is an essential
factor for the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS) during embryogenesis. In the present study, the effects of
GDNF on postnatal ENS development were investigated using cultures of myenteric plexus from the small intestine of newborn
albino rats of different developmental phases (P1, P7, P14). Myenteric plexus was dissociated and cultivated as mixed cultures
of enteric neurons and glial cells. After seeding, the cultures were kept for 24 h or 7 days in serum-free medium containing
various doses (1, 10, 100 ng/ml) of GDNF. The effect of the neurotrophic factor was evaluated using parameters such as cell
size, neuronal survival, or neurite elongation. While neither glial-cell nor neuronal size was influenced by GDNF, there was
an observable effect upon neuronal survival and neurite elongation. The cultures treated with GDNF displayed increased neurite
outgrowth. The promoting effect was dose- and age-dependent, decreasing clearly during the early postnatal period. Already
after 24 h, neuronal survival was increased in P1 and P7, but not in P14 cultures. In long-term cultures, a marked tendency
to form cell aggregates and dense fiber networks was observed when treated with GDNF. These observations suggest that GDNF
plays an important role not only in pre-, but also in postnatal development of the enteric nervous system.
Received: 29 May 1998 / Accepted: 10 December 1998 |
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Keywords: | Neurotrophic factor Growth factor GDNF Neurite outgrowth Postnatal development Enteric nervous system Myenteric plexus |
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