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Retinoic acid induces cholinergic differentiation of cultured newborn rat sympathetic neurons
Author(s) -
Berrard S.,
Biguet N. Faucon,
Houhou L.,
Lamouroux A.,
Mallet J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490350405
Subject(s) - choline acetyltransferase , tyrosine hydroxylase , retinoic acid , endocrinology , medicine , cholinergic , catecholamine , neurotransmitter , acetylcholine , norepinephrine , biology , dopamine , sympathetic nervous system , chemistry , central nervous system , cell culture , genetics , blood pressure
Many studies provide evidence that retinoic acid (RA), an endogenous derivative of vitamin A, plays a role in the development of the nervous system. We now report that RA controls the neurotransmitter phenotype of post‐mitotic rat sympathetic neurons in cell culture. RA added to the culture medium increased the specific activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the level of acetylcholine (ACh). Concomitantly, RA reduced the specific activities of two catecholamine synthetic enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β‐hydroxylase (DBH) and the level of norepinephrine (NE). After a 2 week treatment with 5 μM RA, ChAT was increased by 5–10 fold, whereas TH and DBH were decreased by 10–15 fold and 2–3 fold, respectively, as compared to sympathetic neurons grown in the absence of RA. The modulation of the activity of the three enzymes was dose‐dependent and followed a similar time course. The decrease of TH expression was demonstrated to be due to a decreased number of TH molecules. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.