Open AccessNerve growth factor-induced fiber outgrowth from isolated rat adrenal chromaffin cells: impairment by glucocorticoids.
Author(s) -
Klaus Unsicker,
Brigitte Krisch,
U. Otten,
H. Thoenen
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.75.7.3498
Subject(s) - neurite , adrenal medulla , chromaffin cell , nerve growth factor , catecholamine , medicine , endocrinology , glucocorticoid , biology , medullary cavity , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , in vitro , receptor , biochemistry
Addition of nerve growth factor to cultures of dissociated rat adrenal medullary cells caused fiber outgrowth from chromaffin cells. These fibers exhibited all the characteristics of neurites, particularly the formation of typical growth cones exhibiting intense catecholamine-specific fluorescence. Because this nerve growth factor-mediated neurite outgrowth could be abolished by physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids, it is concluded that the high glucocorticoid concentrations normally present in the adrenal medulla prevent the fiber outgrowth from medullary chromaffin cells in vivo. In dissociated sympathetic neurons the same concentrations of glucocorticoids markedly reduce but do not completely abolish neuronal fiber outgrowth.