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PubMed2000

Neurite morphogenesis of identified visual interneurons and its relationship to photoreceptor synaptogenesis in the flies, Musca domestica and Drosophila melanogaster.

The first neuropile, or lamina, of the fly's optic lobe comprises a model set of identified neurons that are arrayed in cylindrical modules, called cartridges. The cartridge acquires adult form only in the second half of the fly's pupal life. All cells are by then correctly located within each of the lamina's cartridges (Drosophila, Musca), becoming invested by glial cells after 75% of pupal development (P + 75%). In adult cartridges, two lamina cells, L1 and L2, receive input from photoreceptor terminals R1-R6, at so-called tetrad synapses that form in the pupa when these cells' dendrites contact R1-R6. Single-section electron microscopy (EM, Drosophila) and serial-EM reconstructions of L1 and L2 (Musca) reveal relationships between the morphogenesis of L1/L2 dendrites and the formation of tetrads. Neurite outgrowth is initially (P + 55%) random and neurites are unbranched; many neurites invaginate surrounding terminals of R1-R6 but, later, embrace the outer surfaces of these. The maximum profusion of neurites at P + 74% coincides with peak numbers of nascent tetrads; neurites then branch vertically, in the lamina's depth. Later, neurites failing to reach R1-R6's outer surfaces regress. Down the length of their axons, L1 and L2's neurites initially form a random sequence, L1 partnering L1 as often as L2, etc., but beginning at P + 74%, L1 partners L2, and L2 partners L1, with progressive strictness. L1 has more neurites overall than L2. These observations are consistent with the following hypotheses: a neurite only survives if it contacts a presynaptic site; a synapse only survives if it progressively acquires the appropriate number and combination of postsynaptic neurites, culminating in a tetrad; an interaction exists between the neurites of L1 and L2, so that the growth of one respects the pattern of growth of the other.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Qualitative and quantitative differences in senile plaque dystrophic neurites of Alzheimer's disease and normal aged brain.

We have investigated the relationship of plaque dystrophic neurites expressing beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) to those bearing markers of neurofibrillary degeneration (tau), or accumulating the synaptic protein chromogranin A (CgA). In cortical and hippocampal plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) beta APP colocalized with CgA in a neuritic population largely distinct from the subset of neurites labeled by tau. Putaminal plaques generally incorporated only CgA/beta APP, but not tau neurites, and with a rare exception cerebellar plaques were not associated with neurites. Neocortical and hippocampal plaques, the only common type in a group of elderly non-demented subjects (non-AD), incorporated CgA/beta APP, but not tau neurites. In addition to this qualitative difference between the two groups, neocortical plaques with CgA/beta APP neurites were one order of magnitude more common in AD than in non-AD. We propose a hierarchical model of plaque formation in which A beta deposits do not incorporate tau neurites unless neurites bearing synaptic proteins and beta APP are also present. Finally, the minimal association of tau neurites with putaminal plaques, in the presence of tau-immunoreactive neuropil threads and neurofibrillary tangles in the neighborhood, suggests that plaque-independent mechanisms of development of tau neurites operate in AD.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The influence of ensheathing cells on olfactory receptor cell neurite outgrowth in vitro.

We previously reported that laminin substrates increased primary (1 degree) neurite outgrowth from olfactory receptor cells (ORCs) in vitro. To further explore mechanisms underlying the outgrowth of ORC neurites, we have cocultured ORCs with the ensheathing cells (ENSH) from the olfactory nerve. ORCs were plated either: (i) directly on monolayers of ENSH (prepared with minor modifications as reported by Doucette and Devon, or (ii) on coverslips suspended above the ENSH monolayer to investigate diffusible trophic influences of ENSH. In addition, ORCs were cocultured with either olfactory bulb glia (OBG) or hippocampal astrocytes (HG) or grown on either laminin (LN) substrates or poly-L-lysine (PLL) controls. The length of ORC neurites was determined after 48 hr in vitro. Immunocytochemical characterization of the ENSH cultures for p75 nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) revealed that those cultures contained more than 80% ENSH. In OBG cultures approximately 10% and in HG cultures no cells with ENSH characteristics were found. All cells with ENSH characteristics were also LN-immunoreactive. After 48 hr in culture ORCs had the longest 1 degree neurites when they were cocultured with ENSH. No significant differences in the 1 degree neurite length were found comparing ORCs grown directly on ENSH and ORCs physically separated from ENSH. ORCs cultured on HG and on EHS-LN showed no significant differences in the ORC 1 degree neurite length, but on both substrates the ORC 1 degree neurites were significantly shorter than on ENSH. The length of the ORC secondary neurites did not vary significantly in the different culture conditions. Our results suggest that while LN appears to contribute to ORC neurite extension, additional diffusible factors released from ENSH are likely to be further determinants of neurite outgrowth. Because the OBG and HG cocultures did not influence ORC neurite outgrowth as significantly as did the ENSH, it seems plausible to suggest that these diffusible factors may be specific to subpopulations of glial cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aluminum induces neurite elongation and sprouting in cultured hippocampal neurons.

It has been reported that the aluminum content in the human brain increases with age, and it is particularly high in those with Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we found that a low aluminum concentration (100 mumol/L) in the culture media of opossum hippocampal neurons can induce extensive neurite outgrowth (ie, elongation and branching of neurites) and sprouting (ie, outgrowth of filiform processes from neurite varicosities) within 48 hours. Such changes in neurite morphology were remarkably similar to those described in the aged or Alzheimer's disease brain. Neurites that responded to aluminum varied greatly in length, thickness, and branching pattern. Many neurites appeared to have no clear directional growth pattern because they frequently changed their course and formed a meshwork of neurites with others originating from the same cell body. Sprouting neurites varied in length, thickness, and branching pattern, but they always originated from a globular enlargement of neurites along the neurite shaft or at the terminal end. Such growth pattern and extensive sprouting of neurites did not fit the growth pattern displayed by the control neurons. Our findings suggest that aluminum may be involved in the neuronal remodeling characteristic of aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Aluminum Compounds↗
PubMed2002

Suppression of the basic transcription element-binding protein in brain neuronal cultures inhibits thyroid hormone-induced neurite branching.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of thyroid hormone (T(3)) on neurite outgrowth are unknown. We recently identified the small GC-box binding protein BTEB (basic transcription element-binding protein) as a T(3)-regulated gene in the developing rat brain. BTEB mRNAs are rapidly (by 1 h) up-regulated by T(3) in primary rat embryonic neuronal cultures. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), added to the cultures, reduced by 60% the level of BTEB mRNA. Addition of BTEB antisense ODNs to the cultures, before the onset of neurite polarity, had no effect on neurite elaboration but significantly decreased, in a dose-dependent manner, the effect of T(3) on neurite branching. We then examined the effects of antisense ODNs on a thyroid hormone target neuronal population, i.e. the acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons after the onset of neurite polarity. Exposure to BTEB antisense ODNs completely abolished the effects of T(3) on neurite branching and on the elaboration of neuritic filopodia-like structures in acetylcholinesterase cells. By contrast, antisense ODNs did not alter the effect of T(3) on neurite length. Our results show that titration of BTEB levels by T(3) regulates the degree of neurite branching and that the T(3)-induced neurite elongation and the T(3)-induced neurite branching are regulated by distinct mechanisms.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of neurite outgrowth through protein kinase C and protease nexin-1 in neuroblastoma cell.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that protein kinase C (PKC) and protease nexin-1 (PN-1) may be involved in neuronal differentiation including migration, neurite outgrowth, target recognition, and synaptogenesis. We investigated the potential roles of PKC and PN-1 in neurite outgrowth of human neuroblastoma cell line, GOTO. Upon withdrawal of serum GOTO cells extended neurite processes within 3 h and formed fine network of neurites after 24 h. This morphological change was completely inhibited by thrombin and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Withdrawal of serum increased the neurofilament (NF)-L and -M mRNA levels and thrombin did not inhibit the effect of withdrawal of serum. A potent PKC inhibitor, H-7 induced neurite outgrowth in the presence of serum, however, it did not increase the NF mRNA levels. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide did not inhibit the initial neurite outgrowth induced by withdrawal of serum, while these inhibited the increase in the NF mRNA levels. Thrombin retracted the serum depletion-induced neurites but did not retract the neurites induced by H-7. The specific activity and subcellular localization of PKC did not differ between GOTO cells cultured in serum-containing and -free media for 12 h. The serine protease inhibitory activity was undetectable in the serum-free conditioned medium of GOTO cells but the PN-1 mRNA was clearly detected by Northern blot analysis to a less extent than glial cells. Withdrawal of serum or treatment with H-7 did not increase the PN-1 mRNA level in GOTO cells, but thrombin increased its level about 7 folds in serum-free condition. These results indicate that the initial neurite outgrowth requires neither new RNA nor protein synthesis, and that PKC negatively regulates neurite outgrowth and thrombin blocks neurite outgrowth through PKC-dependent pathways.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1992

Effects of apolipoprotein E, beta-very low density lipoproteins, and cholesterol on the extension of neurites by rabbit dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro.

Previous studies suggest that during nerve regeneration apoE acts as a lipid transport protein that assists in the rapid initial extension of axons and then in their myelination. To determine whether apoE and/or apoE-containing lipoproteins can modulate axon growth, we assessed their effect on the out-growth of neurites from neurons in mixed cultures of fetal rabbit dorsal root ganglion cells in vitro. Incubation with beta-very low density lipoprotein (beta-VLDL) particles, which are rich in apoE and cholesterol, increased neurite outgrowth and branching. Unesterified cholesterol added to the cultures had a similar, but less pronounced, effect. These data suggest that cholesterol might be the component responsible for the enhanced neurite growth. In contrast, purified, lipid-free apoE added to the cultures reduced neurite branching. Neurite branching was also reduced when purified apoE was added along with beta-VLDL or cholesterol; however, the striking finding was that under these conditions the neurites extended farther from the neuronal cell body. Dorsal root ganglion cells were examined for the presence of receptors for native and apoE-enriched beta-VLDL. Immunocytochemistry, ligand blots, 45Ca2+ blots, and studies of the interaction of the cells with fluorescent lipoproteins provided evidence of two types of receptors for apoE-containing lipoproteins on neurons: the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, which binds native beta-VLDL, and the LDL receptor-related protein, which binds apoE-enriched beta-VLDL. These findings indicate that apoE may play two complementary roles in neurite outgrowth. When complexed with lipoproteins, apoE stimulates neurite growth by the receptor-mediated delivery of cholesterol and perhaps other components necessary for neurite outgrowth. When apoE as a free protein is added together with apoE-containing lipoproteins, apoE decreases neurite branching and promotes neurite extension away from the cell body. These actions, which would be complementary in promoting target-directed nerve growth in vivo, provide the first direct evidence that apoE and apoE-containing lipoproteins can modulate the outgrowth of neuronal processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Tenascin and extracellular matrix glycoproteins: from promotion to polarization of neurite growth in vitro.

The extracellular matrix molecules tenascin, laminin, and fibronectin, the cell adhesion molecule L1, and the lectin concanavalin A (ConA) were tested for their effects on neuritogenesis in cultures of hippocampal neurons. We analyzed neurite outgrowth between 3 and 21 hr after plating and found that, on polyornithine as control substrate, lengths of axon-like major neurites and dendrite-like minor neurites increased continuously with time in culture. Moreover, growth of minor neurites was faster than growth of major neurites. When the extracellular matrix molecules tenascin, laminin, and fibronectin were coated on polyornithine substrates, growth of all neurites was faster than on control substrates during the first hours of culture. After this initial phase of enhanced neurite outgrowth, elongation of major neurites continued at a higher rate than on the control substrate and growth of minor neurites ceased after 12 hr. Correspondingly, neuronal polarity was strongly increased on the extracellular matrix substrates during later phases of culture. In contrast, lengths of both major and minor neurites were increased over control values on L1 and ConA substrates at all time points investigated. Thus, neuronal polarity was similar for control, L1, and ConA substrates. Spreading of neuronal cell bodies was reduced by about 50% on tenascin, laminin, and fibronectin and by less than 20% on L1 and ConA substrates after 21 hr of culture, when compared to the control substrate. Neuron-to-substrate adhesion was reduced on all three extracellular matrix substrates but not affected on L1 or ConA substrates, after 3 and 21 hr of culture. These observations indicate that induction of neuronal polarity is not a general feature of neurite outgrowth-promoting molecules, such as L1 or ConA, but a distinctive property of the three extracellular matrix glycoproteins studied, and may suggest that enhancement of polarity is correlated with decreased strength of adhesion.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Neurite outgrowth of striatal neurons in vitro: involvement of purines in the growth-promoting effect of myenteric plexus explants.

We have shown previously that a soluble factor(s) released by the myenteric plexus promotes neurite outgrowth from postnatal striatal neurons, and that this effect was abolished by tetrodotoxin. We have now investigated the possible involvement of purines in the mediation of this neuritogenic response, by examining their effect on neurite length of striatal neurons both in co-culture with myenteric plexus explants and cultured alone. Both ATP and 2-chloroadenosine partially reversed the inhibitory effect of tetrodotoxin in co-cultures with whole myenteric plexus, while the stable ATP analogue, alpha, beta-methylene ATP, had no effect, suggesting that ATP was being broken down to adenosine before exerting its action. Further support for this view was that the ATP (P2) purinoceptor antagonist suramin did not reverse the effects of ATP, while the adenosine (P1) purinoceptor antagonist 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline did antagonize the effects of ATP in tetrodotoxin-treated co-cultures. Further, both 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline and adenosine deaminase reduced the effect of the myenteric plexus on striatal neurons in the absence of tetrodotoxin, and the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin completely reversed the effect of tetrodotoxin in our co-culture system. The neurite outgrowth-promoting effect of 2-chloroadenosine in tetrodotoxin-treated co-cultures was not further enhanced by a combination of neuropeptides. Serotonin and GTP were without effect on striatal neurons in the presence or absence of myenteric plexus explants. In experiments without myenteric plexus, both 2-chloroadenosine and forskolin caused a slight increase in striatal neurite length; ATP and GTP were ineffective. Basic fibroblast growth factor, nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3 or neurotrophin-4/5 had no effect on neurite outgrowth in postnatal striatal cultures after two days in vitro. When these growth factors were added in combination with 2-chloroadenosine, the observed increase in mean neurite length did not exceed that induced by 2-chloroadenosine alone. Both 2-chloroadenosine and the ganglioside mix AGF1 increased neurite elongation of striatal neurons after two days in vitro, but an inhibition of enhanced neurite outgrowth was observed when both substances were added together. Both laminin and fibronectin were not neuritogenic for postnatal striatal neurons under our culture conditions. These observations suggest that a factor other than the growth factors tested here is involved in the promotion of striatal neurite outgrowth in co-culture with myenteric plexus explants. In summary, adenosine (probably acting through the A2 subclass of the P1 purinoceptor) leads to increased striatal neurite outgrowth in co-culture with myenteric plexus and we propose that it does so either (1) by triggering the release of a neuritogenic factor, possibly from enteric glial cells, or (2) by acting synergistically with such a growth factor. Adenosine acts via P1 purinoceptors, which leads to changes in cyclic AMP, and the response to forskolin suggests that cyclic AMP is probably involved in the events leading to increased striatal neurite outgrowth.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMed1989

The widespread alteration of neurites in Alzheimer's disease may be unrelated to amyloid deposition.

The structural changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include a widespread alteration of neuronal cell processes in addition to senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Since the antigenic characteristics of these abnormal neurites are similar to those of the abnormal neurites associated with the senile plaques, the question has been raised as to whether the widespread neuritic alteration is secondary to the deposition of amyloid. To answer this question, we examined brains from 2 subjects with a longer-lasting form of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) characterized by the presence of numerous neurofibrillary tangles but no senile plaques, 3 subjects with AD, and 2 age-matched controls. Light and electron immunocytochemical analyses revealed that abnormal neurites are present diffusely in SSPE cerebral cortex in the absence of amyloid deposits. These abnormal neurites were qualitatively identical to the widespread abnormal neurites of AD. The abnormal neurites, in contrast to the neurites of control brains, immunoreacted with antibodies to tau and ubiquitin. These distinctive antigenic features were due to the presence in these abnormal neurites of straight filaments, 14 to 16 nm in diameter, mixed with a few paired helical filaments. The spatial distribution of the widespread neuritic alteration correlated with that of neurofibrillary tangles in both conditions, but not with that of senile plaques in AD. The present findings demonstrate that a diffuse alteration of neurites similar to that present in AD takes place independently of the deposition of amyloid in SSPE, and they are consistent with the hypothesis that in AD, also, this alteration is not secondary to the deposition of amyloid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Nerve growth factor, laminin, and fibronectin promote neurite growth in human fetal sensory ganglia cultures.

The effect of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) on cultured human fetal sensory neurons was assayed by measuring neurite length, density and rate of growth. Addition of NGF increased adhesion of dissociated sensory neurons cultured on collagen coated surfaces. Almost all neurons of 9 to 10 week old fetuses are postmitotic, contain neuron-specific enolase, (an enzyme linked to differentiation), and require NGF for optimal neurite growth. Sensory ganglia re-explanted on collagen showed maximal neurite length and density when treated with 1 ng/ml of NGF. Neurite density was reduced considerably in the absence of mouse NGF and was almost abolished by addition of antimouse NGF antibodies. Surfaces coated with the matrix glycoproteins laminin or fibronectin further stimulated neurite growth of ganglia in the presence of NGF. Increasing amounts of matrix proteins could partly compensate for the absence of mouse NGF or the inhibition of NGF activity by antibodies. Stimulation of neurite growth by matrix proteins was time-dependent, and neurites showed maximum length at 10 days (2 to 3 mm). Neurite growth was more pronounced with laminin than with fibronectin and collagen, and antibodies to laminin suppressed all neurite growth. In the presence of a constant amount of NGF, mean neurite growth reached 26 microns/hr (at 1 day), and was 2.1 and 1.7 times faster on laminin and fibronectin (respectively) than on collagen. Thus, laminin, and to a lesser degree fibronectin, may enhance neurite growth of human sensory neurons in synergy with NGF.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1984

Fetal calf serum-mediated inhibition of neurite growth from ciliary ganglion neurons in vitro.

Embryonic chick ciliary ganglion (CG) neurons cultured in fetal calf serum-containing medium have been previously reported to extend neurites on polyornithine (PORN) substrata precoated with a neurite-promoting factor (PNPF) from rat schwannoma-conditioned medium. On PORN substrata alone, however, no neuritic growth occurred. This was interpreted as evidence that PORN was an incompetent substratum for ciliary neuritic growth. In this study, we now find that an untreated PORN substratum allows neuritic growth in serum-free defined medium. When PNPF was added to PORN, a more rapid and extensive neuritic response occurred. After 5 hr of culture, a 60% neuritic response occurred on PNPF/PORN, whereas no neurons initiated neurites until 10-12 hr on PORN. The inhibitory effect of fetal calf serum noted above on PORN could be obtained in part by pretreating the substratum with serum for 1 hr. Maximal inhibitory effects in the PORN pretreatment were achieved after 30 min and were not further improved by treatments up to 4 hr. Bovine serum albumin was also found to inhibit neurite growth on PORN to about 60% of the inhibition obtained by an equivalent amount of serum protein. Fetal calf serum was shown to cause a 15% reduction in the percentage of neurons bearing neurites after its addition to 18-hr serum-free PORN cultures and to cause statistically significant reductions in neurite lengths measured 2 hr later.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Cholinergic neuronotrophic factors: V. Segregation of survival- and neurite-promoting activities in heart-conditioned media.

Chick embryo ciliary ganglionic (CG) neurons will not survive in monolayer culture unless special supplements are provided in the medium. We have previously reported that two such supplements, chick embryo extract and medium conditioned over chick heart cell cultures (HCM) share the capacity to support survival of CG neurons but differ in their neurite-promoting effects. Thus, embryo extract elicited neuritic outgrowth only on collagen and HCM did so only on polyornithine (PORN), although both agents supported neuronal survival on both substrata. We report here the separation and quantitation of two different HCM components. One is a trophic agent which supports survival of CG neurons on either collagen or PORN, but does not seem to adsorb to either substratum. The other is a neurite-promoting factor (NPF) which adsorbs to PORN but not to collagen. Overnight incubation of HCM on PORN yields two products: (i) an NPF-deprived HCM, that has no neurite-promoting activity and (ii) an NPF-coated PORN, that promotes neuritic development of CG neurons trophically supported by either embryo extract or NPF-deprived HCM. CG requirements for neuritic outgrowth were also examined in explant cultures. No neurites were present after 24 h when explants were cultured in plain medium on PORN. Very extensive radial neuritic outgrowth was observed when explants were cultured in HCM on fresh PORN, or in NPF-deprived HCM on NPF-derivatized PORN. In contrast to what happens with dissociated cells, neuritic outgrowth was also present when ganglia were cultured in NPF-deprived HCM on fresh PORN. However, neurites grew radially only to a limited extent, after which they adopted a circular pattern grossly concentric to the ganglionic explant. It is proposed that explanted ciliary ganglia produce a neurite-promoting factor that coats the PORN substratum in widening circles.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effects of nerve growth factor and heart cell conditioned medium on neurite regeneration of aged sympathetic neurons in culture.

The effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and heart-cell-conditioned medium (HCM) on the neurite regeneration of aged sympathetic neurons were investigated in culture. Investigation of HCM was carried out by two different methods: one was the use of whole HCM on collagen substratum, which reflected component(s) effective in solution (HCM-S); the other was the use of polyornithine (PORN)-binding component(s) (P-HCM). Superior cervical ganglion neurons prepared from male mice from 6 to 30 months of age were cultured in MEM-10% FCS on collagen or gelatin-PORN substratum for 3 days. The number of neurons with neurites and the length of neurites were quantified as neurite production and elongation, respectively. Neuronal survival was not affected by addition of NGF, HCM-S or P-HCM. Neurite production of early adult neurons was enhanced by NGF, HCM-S or P-HCM. In contrast, neurite production of aged neurons was enhanced by only HCM-S, but not NGF or P-HCM. HCM-S did not promote neurite elongation in neurons at any age. Neurite elongation of early adult neurons was enhanced by NGF or P-HCM. Neurite elongation of aged neurons was enhanced by P-HCM. However, responsiveness of NGF for neurite elongation varied according to substrata. No age-related difference was found in neurite production and elongation in the absence of NGF, HCM-S or P-HCM. These results indicate that responsiveness of aged sympathetic neurons is various in different growth factors.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Retraction and degeneration of sympathetic neurites in response to locally elevated potassium.

Sympathetic neurons from superior cervical ganglia of newborn rats were plated into center compartments of 3-compartment culture dishes, allowing exposure of distal neurites to media of different composition than provided to cell bodies and proximal neurites. Cultures were maintained initially with an external potassium concentration ([K+]o) of either 5 mM in all compartments or 50 mM in all compartments. After neurites had elongated into distal compartments, the culture medium was changed such that: the cell bodies and proximal neurites were exposed to 5 mM [K+]o; the distal neurites in one side compartment of each culture were also exposed to 5 mM [K+]o; but the distal neurites in the opposite side compartment were exposed to 50 mM [K+]o. During the next 7-10 days, the distal neurites locally exposed to 50 mM [K+]o degenerated. Many neurites developed a stretched appearance before degenerating, and detailed observations suggest that the neurites retracted to the point where mechanical tension exceeded their strength and then abruptly disintegrated. Neurites in opposite side compartments exposed to 5 mM [K+]o were normal in appearance and did not degenerate. These results suggest that a proximo-distal increase in [K+]o causes an extreme retraction of neurites distal to the increase. These results raise the possibility that K+ released by active nerve endings might cause the retraction of inactive nerve endings, thus providing a possible mechanism for the influence of activity on competition for synaptic sites, a pervasive phenomenon in the developing nervous system.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed1983

Influence of ganglion age, nonneuronal cells and substratum on neurite outgrowth in culture.

This study characterizes the outgrowth patterns of superior cervical ganglia (SCG) obtained from embryonic (E15), perinatal (E20-21), and adult (P35) rats when placed in culture on various substrata. Outgrowth morphology, degree of fasciculation, and outgrowth length were examined on collagen (COL), polyornithine (PO), polylysine (PL), fibronectin (FN), and nonneuronal cells (NNCs) from the ganglion. COL and FN supported extensive neuritic outgrowth; PO and PL provided poor support. Outgrowth pattern, degree of fasciculation, neurite growth rate, and the number of NNCs in the outgrowth varied considerably depending upon the COL configuration. When undiluted COL (approximately 5 mg/ml) was air dried, a three-dimensional loose fibrillar network was formed. Upon COL dilution or gelling undiluted COL by ammoniation, an essentially two-dimensional layer was formed. On two-dimensional COL, NNCs were able to proliferate and migrate extensively from ganglia of all ages; their presence influenced the form and extent of neurite growth. E15, E20, and P35 neurites responded differently to their endogenous NNCs. E15 neurites extended in relation to NNC surfaces and were predominantly nonfasciculated. E20 neurites became more fasciculated in the presence of NNCs that exhibited morphological and behavioral differences from those migrating from E15 ganglia. E20 neurite bundles became defasciculated when they extended into E15 outgrowth. Far fewer neurites grew from P35 explants in the presence of their NNCs. Three-dimensional COL greatly slowed NNC migration and thus allowed investigation of neurite outgrowth from ganglia of differing age in the absence of NNCs. We conclude that neuritic outgrowth patterns on varying substrata reflect not only neurite differences depending upon ganglion age but also variation in the behavior of accompanying NNCs.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

A muscle-derived substrate-bound factor that promotes neurite outgrowth from neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

The development and survival of spinal motor neurons depends upon muscle-derived trophic factors. Some circumstantial evidence suggested to us that the regulatory subunit of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-dPK)-type II might be involved in neuritic outgrowth from spinal neurons. In the present study, we tested a commercial preparation of cAMP-dPK for neurite-promoting activity. Commercial cAMP-dPK-type II from skeletal and cardiac muscles elicited a significant neurite outgrowth from cultured embryonic chicken neurons when the enzyme preparation was bound to polylysine-coated substrata; type I cAMP-dPK from skeletal muscle was ineffective. Neither cAMP-dPK-type I nor -type II had a significant effect on the survival of spinal neurons in culture. Type II cAMP-dPK also stimulated neurite outgrowth from chicken cerebral hemisphere neurons, dorsal root ganglionic neurons, ciliary ganglionic neurons, and rat sympathetic ganglionic neurons in culture. The neurite-promoting activity appears to reside in a contaminant of the preparation since neither the purified regulatory nor catalytic subunits of cAMP-dPK-type II had an effect on neurite outgrowth per se from cultured neurons and since neurite-promoting activity did not correlate with [3H]cAMP binding or cAMP-dependent kinase activity. The neurite-promoting protein was then partially purified from commercial cAMP-dPK-type II by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DE-52 cellulose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of the active protein peak revealed a major protein band (MW 50 kDa) and several minor bands (e.g., MW 200 kDa, 52 kDa, 45 kDa). Also, immunoblot analysis and immunoprecipitation revealed that the partially purified neurite-promoting protein was distinct from laminin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, nerve growth factor, neural cell adhesion molecule, and fibronectin. Furthermore, the neurite-promoting activity was not diminished by treatment with heparinase nor was it bound to heparin conjugated to Sepharose. Our results demonstrate that a protein unrelated to laminin or its associated macromolecules and which copurifies with the type II cAMP-dPK of striated muscle stimulates neurite outgrowth from neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Kinetic analysis of 'rapid onset' neurite formation in NG108-15 cells reveals a dual role for substratum-bound laminin.

Undifferentiated neural hybrid NG108-15 cells plated on laminin-coated, polylysine-treated plastic Petri dishes in minimal serum-free media formed long neurites within 1-4 h post-plating. Morphologic features and pharmacologic responses of these 'rapid onset' neurites were strikingly similar to those of neuronal growth cones. Cycloheximide (1-10 micrograms/ml) and forskolin (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) accelerated the initial formation of laminin-stimulated neurites, but did not cause rapid onset neurites to emerge upon Petri dishes coated with polylysine alone. Quantitative study of the substratum-dependent effect of cycloheximide showed that it was additive even with maximally effective amounts of laminin, independent of the magnitude of the laminin-stimulated baseline rate and not limited by an inherent ceiling in the rate at which neurites could form. The methylation inhibitor 5'-deoxy-5'-methyl thioadenosine (MTA) (3 X 10(-4) to 3 X 10(-3) M) did stimulate neurites to form on polylysine. MTA- and laminin-stimulated neurites were similar in their susceptibility to calmodulin antagonists and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). However, formation of MTA-stimulated neurites was not accelerated by cycloheximide. A simple two-compartment kinetic model of 'rapid onset' neurite formation is proposed: compartment A is common to both laminin- and MTA-stimulated neurites. Compartment B is affected by cycloheximide, and its access to the neurite formation machinery contained in compartment A is gated according to the nature of the substratum. In addition to its direct effects, laminin controls the relative dominance of the two kinetic compartments via modulating the effectiveness of other signals acting upon an endogenously active compartment B.

Adenosine↗