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Serotonin promotes region‐specific glial influences on cultured serotonin and dopamine neurons
Author(s) -
Liu Jiangping,
Lauder Jean M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.440050408
Subject(s) - biology , raphe , neuroscience , serotonin , neuron , serotonergic , dopamine , neurite , midbrain , astrocyte , 5 ht receptor , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry , in vitro
To test the hypothesis that glia mediate interactions between embryonic serotonergic (5‐HT) neurons and dopamine neurons, we studied the effects of 5‐HT in co‐cultures of E14 raphe neurons of mesencephalic dopamine neurons and radial glia/astrocytes derived from the same (homotypic) or opposite (heterotypic) brain region using a dose (10 −5 M) that would produce 5‐HT uptake into glial cells as well as activate 5‐HT receptors. Morphometric analysis of 5‐HT and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons revealed regilonal differences in the effects of 5‐HT (and nialamide) on survival, cell soma size, and dendrite‐like neurite outgrowth in neuronal‐glial co‐cultures. In general, 5‐HT had more significant effects on both types of monoamine neuron when they were cultured with mesencephalic glia (GSN). Stimulatory effects of 5‐HT on growth of TH neurons in GSN cultures suggest that developing raphe axons, which reach the mesencephalon during the early differentiation of these neurons, may enhance the influence of local glial‐derived trophic factors. Likewise, the promotion of 5‐HT neuronal survival in these cultures suggests that glial factors in the mesencephalon may contribute to the support of 5‐HT neurons in addition to the influences of raphe glia. The inhibitory effects of 5‐HT on neurite outgrowth by raphe neurons in GSN co‐cultures indicates enhanced sensitivity of these neurons to the inhibitory effects of 5‐HT in the presence of mesencephalic glia. The region‐specific effects of 5‐HT and nialamide in glial co‐cultures suggest that raphe and mesencephalic glia may express different capacities for 5‐HT uptake, receptors, and/or monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities. These characteristics could be important for the specificity of growth‐regulatory influences of glial cells on the development of brain monoamine neurons. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.