Subpopulations of cultured chick sympathetic neurones differ in their requirements for survival factors

Sympathetic tales: subdivisons of the autonomic nervous system and the impact of developmental studies

Remarkable progress in a range of biomedical disciplines has promoted the understanding of the cellular components of the autonomic nervous system and their differentiation during development to a critical level. Characterization of the gene expression fingerprints of individual neurons and identification of the key regulators of autonomic neuron differentiation enables us to comprehend the development of different sets of autonomic neurons. Their individual functional properties emerge as a consequence of differential gene expression initiated by the action of specific developmental regulators. In this review, we delineate the anatomical and physiological observations that led to the subdivision into sympathetic and parasympathetic domains and analyze how the recent molecular insights melt into and challenge the classical description of the autonomic nervous system.

Survival of chick embryo sympathetic neurons in cell culture

Changes in neuronal numbers during the development of the chick embryo paravertebral sympathetic nervous system have been examined using cell culture techniques. Early sympathetic ganglia contain predominantly cells having neuronal phenotypes and these increase in number until embryonic day 9. Subsequently there is a large decrease in the number of neurons and an increase in the population of non-neuronal cells. This in vivo pattern is maintained when the neurons are grown in vitro, where Nerve Growth Factor more readily prevents the death of neurons cultured from 12-day or older embryos than those from earlier stages of development.

In vitro responses of sympathetic neurons to nerve growth factor and other macromolecular agents

Cells in the dissociated state from the sympathetic ganglia (SG) of 11-day-old chick embryos, and monolayer cultures of these cells are used to illustrate some of th extrinsic influences that regulate neuronal performance. In culture, the survival of SG neurons can be measured, as an assay for survival-promoting agents. Among the requirements of the SG discussed are: (1) nerve growth factor and other trophic factors that can replace it, (2) serum, and a defined mixture (N1) that can substitute for it, and (3) a minimal presence of non-neuronal cells. Also reviewed are factors that confer neurite-promoting competence on certain culture substrata. Suspensions of SG cells permit analysis of "short-latency" events triggered within minutes of the presentation of nerve growth factors and provide an insight into its possible mode of action. The most striking such event is its control over Na+/K+ pumps, since ionic control is a fundamental feature of living cells and may well mediate their regulation by trophic factors, hormones or mitogens.

Neurotrophic factors in autonomic nervous system plasticity and dysfunction

During development, neurotrophic factors are known to play important roles in regulating the survival of neurons in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the formation of their synaptic connectivity with their peripheral targets in the cardiovascular, digestive, and other organ systems. Emerging findings suggest that neurotrophic factors may also affect the functionality of the ANS during adult life and may, in part, mediate the effects of environmental factors such as exercise and dietary energy intake on ANS neurons and target cells. In this article, we describe the evidence that ANS neurons express receptors for multiple neurotrophic factors, and data suggesting that activation of those receptors can modify plasticity in the ANS. Neurotrophic factors that may regulate ANS function include brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factors, and ciliary neurotrophic factor. The possibility that perturbed neurotrophic factor signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of ANS dysfunction in some neurological disorders is considered, together with implications for neurotrophic factor-based therapeutic interventions.

A beta peptides and calcium influence secretion of the amyloid protein precursor from chick sympathetic neurons in culture

The major constituent of amyloid plaques in the Alzheimer disease (AD) brain is the amyloid protein (A beta). A beta has been shown to be neurotoxic to cells, but the exact mechanism of its effects are still not known. Most studies have focussed on A beta neurotoxicity, but little is known about the effect of A beta peptides on cellular protein metabolism and secretion. To examine the effect of A beta peptides on APP secretion, chick sympathetic neurons were metabolically labeled with [(35)S]methionine and the amounts of radiolabeled APP and A beta quantitated. Several A beta peptides (A beta(25-35), [pyroglu(3)]A beta(3-40), and [pyroglu(11)]A beta(11-40)) inhibited secretion of [(35)S]APP and increased cell-associated [(35)S]APP. There was also a 2-2.5-fold increase in secretion of several other proteins when cells were incubated with A beta(25-35). However, the amount of A beta secreted into the medium was decreased. Treatment of cells with the calcium ionophore A23187 caused a 1.5-fold increase in secreted [(35)S]APP and a decrease in cell-associated [(35)S]APP. Although L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) have been implicated in A beta toxicity, the effect of L-type VDCC on APP secretion has not previously been examined. The L-type VDCC antagonists nifedipine and diltiazem both increased [(35)S]APP secretion into the medium but did not influence the effect of A beta on [(35)S]APP secretion. These studies suggest that A beta interferes with the secretory pathway of APP. Insofar as secreted APP has been proposed to have a neuroprotective function, the accumulation of A beta in the AD brain could decrease secreted APP and thereby indirectly increase A beta toxicity.

The developmental expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the neuropeptide VIP in chick sympathetic neurons: evidence for different regulatory events in cholinergic differentiation

Cholinergic properties in chick sympathetic neurons are detectable early during development of paravertebral ganglia and mature after target contact. The cholinergic marker choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is first detectable at embryonic day 6 and its expression partly overlaps with that of the noradrenergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). At late embryonic stages, when sympathetic neurons have established target contact, ganglia consist of two major neuronal populations, TH-positive noradrenergic neurons and cholinergic neurons that at this stage express vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in addition to ChAT. The maturation of sympathetic neurons is paralleled by changes in their response to the neurokine ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). These findings suggest that expression of neurotransmitter properties is controlled differentially before and during target innervation.

Secreted glypican binds to the amyloid precursor protein of Alzheimer's disease (APP) and inhibits APP-induced neurite outgrowth

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) of Alzheimer's disease has been shown to stimulate neurite outgrowth in vitro. The effect of APP on neurite outgrowth can be enhanced if APP is presented to neurons in substrate-bound form, in the presence of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. To identify specific heparan sulfate proteoglycans that bind to APP, conditioned medium from neonatal mouse brain cells was subjected to affinity chromatography with recombinant APP695 as a ligand. Glypican bound strongly to the APP affinity column. Purified glypican bound to APP with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 2.8 nM and inhibited APP-induced neurite outgrowth from chick sympathetic neurons. The effect of glypican was specific for APP, as glypican did not inhibit laminin-induced neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, treatment of cultures with 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xyloside, a competitive inhibitor of proteoglycan glycanation, inhibited APP-induced neurite outgrowth but did not inhibit laminin-induced neurite outgrowth. This result suggests that endogenous proteoglycans are required for substrate-bound APP to stimulate neurite outgrowth. Secreted glypican may act to inhibit APP-induced neurite outgrowth in vivo by competing with endogenous proteoglycans for binding to APP.

Ras p21 protein promotes survival and differentiation of human embryonic neural crest-derived cells

We have previously shown that the oncogene product p21 Ras is essential for the survival and neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of nerve growth factor on cultured chick embryonic sensory, but not sympathetic neurons. In order to extend our observations to the human system and to non-neuronal cells, we introduced the oncogenic form of p21 Ras into the cytoplasm of three different types of cultured human embryonic neural crest derivatives (8th-11th gestational week): dorsal root ganglion neurons, sympathetic neurons, and adrenal chromaffin cells. These cells are dependent on nerve growth factor for survival and/or fibre outgrowth in vitro. In dorsal root ganglion neurons, p21 Ras promoted survival and fibre outgrowth which was quantitatively and qualitatively comparable to the nerve growth factor effect (84% vs. 95%, control 18%). Sympathetic neurons showed a similar effect, albeit with a higher background survival (91% vs. 93%, control 58%). On chromaffin cells, which respond to nerve growth factor with pronounced fibre outgrowth in culture, the effect of p21 Ras was again comparable to that of nerve growth factor (35% vs. 30%, control 5%). The survival and fibre outgrowth-promoting effects of p21 Ras on human embryonic dorsal root ganglion neurons, sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells suggest an involvement of p21 Ras in the intracellular signal transduction of nerve growth factor in human neural crest-derived cell populations.

Importance of protein kinase C for normal development of transmitter release properties in embryonic chick sympathetic neurons in culture

The hypothesis that multiple trophic inputs are essential for normal development of transmitter release properties in sympathetic neurons was tested using two supportive agents (excess KCl and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate which produce marked activation of protein kinase C and also support survival of chick sympathetic neurons in culture) in addition to nerve growth factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3. Basal and electrically evoked (10 pulses at 1 Hz and 10 Hz) release of [(3)H]norepinephrine from neurons supported by nerve growth factor was very high (1.5 to 2% of total [(3)H]norepinephrine content) and relatively insensitive to facilitation by tetraethylammonium as compared to release in neuroeffector organs, and the frequency-release response was negative. In K+-supported neurons, basal [(3)H]norepinephrine release was almost four-fold lower, evoked release was four- to eight-fold lower, the frequency response was flat to positive, and tetraethylammonium increased evoked release up to four-fold. Inclusion of nerve growth factor in culture did not modify the effects of K+ on basal or evoked release, and nerve growth factor plus ciliary neurotrophic factor and/or neurotrophin-3 did not produce the changes observed in K+-supported neurons. Neurons supported by phorbol ester had a low background release, low evoked release, a positive frequency-release response, and 10- to 30-fold facilitation by tetraethylammonium of release evoked by 1 Hz or 1 pulse stimulation. Thus, physiological and pharmacological behavior of transmitter release of sympathetic neurons supported by excess KCl or phorbol ester was very similar to their counterparts growing in the body. Neurons supported by nerve growth factor showed an immediate rise in stimulated [Ca(2)+]i that was three- to five-fold above basal levels with either 1 Hz or 10 Hz stimulation. However, in phorbol supported neurons, [Ca(2)+]i rose gradually to about 1.5 times basal levels during 1 Hz stimulation and increased further with 10Hz stimulation. Tetraethylammonium had little effect on stimulated [Ca(2)+]i in nerve growth factor-supported neurons, but greatly facilitated the stimulated rise in [Ca(2)+]i in phorbol-supporte neurons. The data show that multiple trophic inputs distinct from nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-beta or ciliary neurotrophic factor are required for normal physiological function of sympathetic neurons.

Cardiac cells control transmitter release and calcium homeostasis in sympathetic neurons cultured from embryonic chick

1. The contribution of target cells in controlling the functional properties of sympathetic neurons was investigated using pure neuronal cultures and co-cultures of neurons with their physiological target cells. 2. Chick embryo sympathetic neurons cultured alone exhibited maximal elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and release of tritiated noradrenaline ([3H]NA) when given ten stimulating pulses at 1 Hz but not at 10 Hz, yielding a negative frequency-release response. Stimulation-evoked release was only slightly enhanced by the K+ channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM). 3. When sympathetic neurons were co-cultured with cardiac cells of the chick embryo, electrically stimulated transmitter release and neuronal [Ca2+]i were reduced by 3- to 5-fold. Co-cultured neurons had a positive stimulation frequency--[3H]NA release response and 5- to 7-fold facilitation of release by TEA. 4. Voltage-clamped Ca2+ current density was decreased from 0.61 +/- 0.13 pA micron-2 in neurons alone to 0.19 +/- 0.03 pA micron-2 in co-cultured neurons. 5. Neonatal rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons were also relatively insensitive to TEA when cultured alone, but [3H]NA release was greatly facilitated by TEA when tested in SCG neurons co-cultured with rat neonatal cardiac myocytes. 6. The cardiac cell-induced changes in Ca2+ handling and release properties were produced within 24 h by sympathetic neuroeffector cells, but not by skeletal muscle cells or sensory neurons, and did not occur spontaneously in neurons grown alone for up to 6 days. 7. The frequency and TEA responses of neurons grown with cardiac cells are characteristic of responses seen in sympathetic neuroeffector organs. We conclude that physiological targets play a crucial role in development of normal transmitter-release properties by controlling Ca2+ homeostasis in sympathetic neurons.

Co-release of noradrenaline and ATP from cultured sympathetic neurons

The vesicles of postganglionic sympathetic axons store both noradrenaline and ATP. The theory of noradrenaline-ATP co-transmission implies that both compounds are released by nerve action potentials and elicit postjunctional effects. Many properties of postjunctional responses support the theory. However, neural release of ATP has been difficult to detect biochemically: by far the major part of the overflow of ATP from intact tissues upon sympathetic nerve stimulation comes from non-neural elements, especially smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Here we describe a parallel electrically evoked overflow of [3H]noradrenaline and endogenous ATP from cultured chick sympathetic neurons. The overflow was abolished by tetrodotoxin, omega-conotoxin and withdrawal of Ca2+, was increased by tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine, and was not changed by prazosin or suramin. The results demonstrate directly the action potential-evoked, Ca(2+)-dependent and presumably vesicular and exocytotic release of ATP from postganglionic sympathetic neurons. They support the co-transmitter theory and suggest that cultured sympathetic neurons are a preparation in which noradrenaline-ATP co-release can be examined free from postjunctional components.

P2 purinoceptors modulating noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurons in culture

ATP (1 mM) inhibited, whereas 2-methylthio-ATP (30 microM), a P2Y-selective purinoceptor agonist, increased electrically evoked release of [3H]noradrenaline from chick sympathetic neurons. The P2X-selective purinoceptor agonist alpha,beta-methylene-ATP (30 microM) had no effect. The ATP-induced inhibition of release as well as the facilitation caused by 2-methylthio-ATP was not affected by the selective adenosine (P1) receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)-theophylline (8-PST; 100 microM), but completely prevented by the non-selective P2 antagonist suramin (300 microM). The present data reveal a dual regulation of noradrenaline release from sympathetic neurons. Facilitation seems to be mediated by a P2Y purinoceptor, whereas inhibition is caused by a P2 purinoceptor which needs further subtype characterization.

Development of trophic interactions in the vertebrate peripheral nervous system

During embryogenesis, the neurons of vertebrate sympathetic and sensory ganglia become dependent on neurotrophic factors, derived from their targets, for survival and maintenance of differentiated functions. Many of these interactions are mediated by the neurotrophins NGF, BDNF, and NT3 and the receptor tyrosine kinases encoded by genes of the trk family. Both sympathetic and sensory neurons undergo developmental changes in their responsiveness to NGF, the first neurotrophin to be identified and characterized. Subpopulations of sensory neurons do not require NGF for survival, but respond instead to BDNF or NT3 with enhanced survival. In addition to their classic effects on neuron survival, neurotrophins influence the differentiation and proliferation of neural crest-derived neuronal precursors. In both sympathetic and sensory systems, production of neurotrophins by target cells and expression of neurotrophin receptors by neurons are correlated temporally and spatially with innervation patterns. In vitro, embryonic sympathetic neurons require exposure to environmental cues, such as basic FGF and retinoic acid to acquire neurotrophin-responsiveness; in contrast, embryonic sensory neurons acquire neurotrophin-responsiveness on schedule in the absence of these molecules.

Selective modulation of cholinergic properties in cultures of avian embryonic sympathetic ganglia

We have studied the expression of catecholaminergic and cholinergic phenotypes in sympathetic ganglia removed from 7- to 10-day-old quail embryos and grown in vitro under different conditions. Quantitative data were obtained by measuring the conversion of (3H) tyrosine and (3H) choline to catecholamines (CA) and acetylcholine (ACh), respectively. In explant cultures, large amounts of both neurotransmitters were synthesized from the onset, but CA generally predominated, the molar ratios of CA:ACh being, on average, of the order of 2:1. If the ganglia were dissociated before plating, there was a selective increase in ACh synthesis (three- to fivefold) such that the CA:ACh ratio fell strikingly. The early expression of the cholinergic phenotype appears to be species-specific in that, under identical conditions, dissociated cell cultures of newborn mouse superior cervical ganglia were overwhelmingly catecholaminergic (CA:ACh ratio of approximately 40:1) and ACh synthesis was only just detectable. Addition of veratridine (1.5 microM) either to explant or to dissociated cell cultures of embryonic quail sympathetic ganglia barely altered CA-synthesizing ability; in contrast, ACh synthesis and accumulation were stimulated about threefold. This effect, which we found to correspond to a quantitatively similar increase in the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), was completely blocked by tetrodotoxin, indicating that it was due to Na(+)-dependent depolarization. A preferential stimulation of ACh production was also observed when the concentration of K+ was raised to 20 mM. Veratridine treatment of cultures of presumptive sympathoblasts, in the form of sclerotome-associated neural crest cells, had identical effects. Our results reveal the quantitative importance of ACh-related properties in avian sympathetic ganglia from the earliest stages of their development and suggest that depolarization may be one of the factors selectively enhancing expression of the cholinergic phenotype during ontogeny. In these respects, the neurochemical differentiation of sympathetic neurons unfolds according to dissimilar scenarios in birds and mammals.

Phenotypic plasticity of avian embryonic sympathetic neurons grown in a chemically defined medium: direct evidence for noradrenergic and cholinergic properties in the same neurons

Avian embryonic sympathetic ganglia possess both catecholaminergic and cholinergic features and can synthesize noradrenaline (NAd) and acetylcholine (ACh) simultaneously. In the present study we sought to determine (1) whether or not this coproduction of NAd and ACh corresponds to the existence of two non-overlapping populations, and (2) to what extent the levels of synthesis are influenced by non-neuronal ganglion cells. We have focused on the correlation between the immunocytochemically demonstrable presence of the noradrenergic and cholinergic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), respectively, and the synthesis of the corresponding neurotransmitters in embryonic quail sympathetic neuronal and non-neuronal cells purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. We show that (1) freshly sorted neurons synthesize both NAd and ACh, whereas non-neuronal cells produce neither; (2) the overwhelming majority of the sympathetic neurons display TH immunoreactivity; (3) about half of the TH-positive neurons are recognized by an anti-ChAT antibody in an artificial medium that selectively enhances synthesis and/or accumulation of ACh; (4) the non-neuronal cells are important for survival of the neurons and potentiate their synthesis of ACh in this medium, and (5) finally, we present evidence that expression of TH in noradrenergic neurons and in small intensely fluorescent cells of sympathetic ganglia is differentially regulated.

Extension of sympathetic neurites in vitro towards explants of embryonic and neonatal mouse heart and stomach: ontogeny of neuronotrophic factors

In order to establish when target organs first produce neuronotrophic factors, extension of neurites in vitro from sympathetic ganglia (superior cervical and coeliac) of 1-day neonatal mice towards explants of 10-, 11-, 14- and 17-day embryonic and 1-day neonatal atrium and stomach was examined in co-cultures. Longer neurites extended from ganglia towards, than away from, atrial targets at all stages examined, and was most marked towards 17-day embryonic and neonatal explants. Treatment of atrial co-cultures with antiserum to nerve growth factor (NGF) almost totally blocked preferential neurite outgrowth. Directional growth of neurites towards stomach explants in co-cultures was not as pronounced as that towards atrium; extension of neurites was most marked when stomach was provided by 11-, 14- and 17-day embryos. Such outgrowth was only partially blocked by antiserum to NGF, significant preferential extension of neurites towards stomach persisting in the presence of the antiserum. These results indicate that atrium and stomach produce neuronotrophic factors from the earliest ages studied; the evidence indicates that in the case of atrium, NGF predominates but that stomach produces NGF as well as another factor immunologically distinct from NGF. It is of interest that both types of target explanted before they receive sympathetic innervation show evidence of producing NGF in culture.

Chick sympathetic neurons in culture respond differentially to nerve growth factor and conditioned medium from activated splenic lymphocytes

Chicken splenic cells, stimulated by concanavalin A, secreted a factor or factors into the culture medium which supported the survival of neurons from sympathetic ganglia of chick embryos. The effect of this conditioned medium (CM) was similar to the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF). However, the enhanced survival effect of CM was unaffected by K-252a, a protein kinase inhibitor which completely abolished the effect of NGF. 6-Thioguanine, an inhibitor of NGF-activated protein kinase N, blocked the survival effects of both NGF and CM on sympathetic neurons, but a dose required for the half-maximal inhibition for the survival effect of CM was 10 times higher than that for NGF. H-7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, did not block the effect of either CM or NGF. On the other hand, the survival effect of both CM and NGF was blocked to the same extent by 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine and LiCl. These results suggest that activated splenic cells secreted neuronal survival-promoting factor(s) into CM and that the cellular mechanisms promoting neuronal survival by CM are different from those promoting neuronal survival induced by NGF.

Complexities and sequence similarities of mRNA populations of cholinergic (NS20-Y) and adrenergic (N1E-115) murine neuroblastoma cell lines

The clonal murine neuroblastoma cell lines NS20-Y and N1E-115 have been proposed as models for examining the commitment of neural crest cells to either the cholinergic or adrenergic phenotype, respectively. The validity of this model depends in part on the extent to which these two cell lines have diverged as a result of their transformed, rather than neuronal properties. In order to quantitate differences in gene expression between NS20-Y and N1E-115 cells, the mRNA complexity of each cell type was determined. An analysis of the kinetics of hybridization of NS20-Y cell mRNA with cDNA prepared from NS20-Y cell mRNA demonstrated the presence of approximately 11,700 mRNA species assuming an average length of 1900 nucleotides. A similar analysis using mRNA isolated from N1E-115 cells and cDNA prepared from N1E-115 cell mRNA demonstrated that the adrenergic cell line expressed approximately 11,600 mRNA species. The species of mRNA expressed by each cell line were resolved into high, intermediate, and low abundance populations. In order to determine whether mRNAs were expressed by the cholinergic, but not by the adrenergic cell line, NS20-Y cDNA was hybridized to an excess of N1E-115 cell mRNA. An analysis of the solution hybridization kinetics from this procedure demonstrated that the two cell lines do not differ significantly in the nucleotide complexity of their mRNA populations. The extensive similarity between the two mRNA populations suggests that only a small number of genes are expressed differentially between the two cell lines and supports their use as models for the differentiation of cholinergic and adrenergic neurons.

Distinct and different effects of the oncogenes v-myc and v-src on avian sympathetic neurons: retroviral transfer of v-myc stimulates neuronal proliferation whereas v-src transfer enhances neuronal differentiation

Immature avian sympathetic neurons are able to proliferate in culture for a limited number of divisions albeit expressing several neuron-specific properties. The effect of avian retroviral transfer of oncogenes on proliferation and differentiation of sympathetic neurons was investigated. Primary cultures of 6-d-old quail sympathetic ganglia, consisting of 90% neuronal cells, were infected by Myelocytomatosis virus (MC29), which contains the oncogene v-myc, and by the v-src-containing Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). RSV infection, in contrast to findings in other cellular systems, resulted in a reduction of neuronal proliferation as determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation (50% of control 4 d after infection) and in increased morphological differentiation. This is reflected by increased neurite production, cell size, and expression of neurofilament protein. In addition, RSV-infected neurons, unlike uninfected cells, are able to survive in culture for time periods up to 14 d in the absence of added neurotrophic factors. In contrast, retroviral transfer of v-myc stimulated the proliferation of immature sympathetic neurons preserving many properties of uninfected cells. The neuron-specific cell surface antigen Q211 and the adrenergic marker enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase were maintained in MC29-infected cells and in the presence of chick embryo extract the cells could be propagated over several weeks and five passages. Within 7 d after infection, the number of Q211-positive neurons increased approximately 100-fold. These data demonstrate distinct and different effects of v-src and v-myc-containing retroviruses on proliferation and differentiation of sympathetic neurons: v-src transfer results in increased differentiation, whereas v-myc transfer maintains an immature status reflected by proliferation, immature morphology, and complex growth requirements. The possibility of expanding immature neuronal populations by transfer of v-myc will be of considerable importance for the molecular analysis of neuronal proliferation and differentiation.

Structural and developmental differences between three types of Na channels in dorsal root ganglion cells of newborn rats

The changes in Na current during development were studied in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Cells obtained from rats 1-3 and 5-8 days after birth were cultured and their Na currents were compared. On top of the two types of Na currents reported in these cells (fast-FA current and slow-S current) a new fast current was found (FN). The main characteristics of the three currents are: (i) The voltages of activation are -37, -36 and -23 mV for the FN, FA and S currents, respectively. (ii) The activation and inactivation kinetics of FN and FA currents are about five times faster than those of the S current. (iii) The voltages at which inactivation reaches 50% are -139, -75 and -23 mV for the FN, FA and S currents, respectively. The kinetics and voltage-dependent parameters of the three currents and their density do not change during the first eight days after birth. However, their relative frequency in the cells changes. In the 1-3 day-old rats the percent of cells with S, FA, and mixed S + FN currents is 22, 18, and 60% of the cells, respectively. In the 5-8 day-old, the percent of cells with S, FA, and FN + S is 10, 66 and 22%. The relative increase in the frequency of cells with FA current during development can contribute to the ease of action potential generation compared with cells with FN currents, which are almost completely inactivated under physiological conditions. The predominance of FA cells also results in a significant decrease in the relative frequency of cells with the high-threshold, slow current. Antibodies directed against a part of the S4 region of internal repeat I of the sodium channel (C1+, amino acids 210-223, eel channel numbering) were found to shift the voltage dependence of FA current inactivation (but not of FN or S currents) to more negative potentials. The effect was found only when the antibodies were applied externally. The results suggest that FN, FA and S types of Na currents are generated by channels, which are different in the topography of the C1+ region in the membrane.

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis is not negatively regulated by protein kinase C in the peripheral tissues of rat and chick

1. Phorbol esters are known to inhibit phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositide. This inhibition is attributed to participation of protein kinase C (PKC) in a negative-feedback control of phosphoinositide metabolism. We have tested this hypothesis by using different types of activators and inhibitors of PKC. 2. Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) inhibited the stimulatory effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP) formation in cultured sympathetic neurons of the chick embryo and adrenal medulla of the rat. 3. Acetylcholine (ACh) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) activated neuronal PKC by 3- to 8-fold. The extent of PKC activation by 100 microM-ACh was comparable to that of 100 nM-PDB. Activation of PKC by pre-incubation of sympathetic neurons with ACh (or 5-HT) did not inhibit the stimulatory effects of ACh (or 5-HT) on [3H]IP formation. 4. Pre-treatment of sympathetic neurons or adrenal medulla with a PKC inhibitor H7 (1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulphonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine) almost completely blocked activation of the enzyme induced by PDB, ACh or 5-HT. However, blockade of PKC did not prevent the inhibitory effects of PDB on ACh-induced [3H]IP formation. 5. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and muscarine induced catecholamine secretion from the perfused adrenal medulla via formation of inositol-1,4,5-tirisphosphate (IP3). Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate decreased muscarine-induced catecholamine secretion. However, activation of PKC by VIP had no effect on muscarine-induced catecholamine secretion and vice versa. 6. These results suggest that PKC is not negatively coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells. Phorbol esters must have targets other than PKC to interfere with the phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Forskolin mediates the survival of nerve growth factor-dependent sympathetic neurons of chick embryo by a cyclic AMP-independent mechanism

Forskolin has become an invaluable tool for exploring the involvement of cyclic AMP in a variety of cellular functions. The diterpine directly activates the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase, causing a marked increase in cyclic AMP content. Because of this well-characterized action, practically all the observed effects of forskolin are commonly attributed to cyclic AMP-dependent processes. We show here that forskolin exerts a neurotrophic action that is almost identical to that of nerve growth factor (NGF) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) but independent of cyclic AMP. Sympathetic neurons of the chick embryo supported in culture for 2 days by NGF, forskolin plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), or PDB had almost identical levels of cyclic AMP (between 9 and 12 pmol/mg protein). Neurons supported in culture for 2 days by NGF or PDB when challenged with forskolin plus IBMX showed almost a 15-fold increase in cyclic AMP, but those supported by forskolin plus IBMX and then exposed to the same combination of drugs did not show an increase in cyclic AMP, exhibiting a marked down-regulation. Exposure of neurons to forskolin for 2 h was ineffective in supporting long-term survival, suggesting that an initial increase in cyclic AMP formation is not sufficient but the continued presence of the drug is essential for survival. Effects of forskolin on the survival of these neurons could be observed even in the presence of dideoxyadenosine, and inhibitor of adenylate cyclase. Neurons supported by PDB for 2 days in culture when exposed to NGF for the first time did not show any increase in cyclic AMP, providing clear evidence that NGF does not affect this second messenger in its target cells. Similarly, neurons supported by NGF for 2 days when exposed to PDB did not show an increase in cyclic AMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of sodium currents in mammalian sensory neurons cultured in serum-free defined medium with and without nerve growth factor

The influence of nerve growth factor (NGF) on Na currents of rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was studied in neurons obtained from newborns and cultured for 2-30 hr in serum-free defined medium (SFM). Cell survival for the period studied was 78-87% both with and without NGF. Na currents were detected in all cells cultured for 6-9 hr. They were also detected after 2 hr in culture in 21.5% of the cells cultured without NGF (-NGF cells), and in 91.5% of the cells cultured with NGF (+NGF cells). Current density of the -NGF cells was 2.3 and 2 pA/microns 2 after growth for 2 and 6-9 hr, respectively, compared to 3.0 and 3.9 pA/microns 2 for the +NGF cells. The +NGF cells were separated into fast (F), Intermediate (I) and slow (S) cells, based on the Na current they expressed, while -NGF cells were all of the I type. F, I and S currents differed in their voltage-dependent inactivation (Vh50 = -79, -28 and -20 mV), kinetics of inactivation (tau h = 0.55, 1.3 and 7.75 msec), and TTX sensitivity (Ki = 60, 550 and 1100 nM). All currents were depressed by [Ca]0 with a KdCa of 22, 17 and 8 mM for F, I and S currents, respectively. Current density of F and S currents was 5.5 and 5 pA/micron 2 for the I current. The concentration-dependent curve of I current vs. TTX indicated that I current has two sites: one with F-like and another with S-like Ki for TTX. Hybridization of F and S currents yielded I-like currents. Thus, the major effect of NGF on Na currents in SFM is the acceleration of Na current acquisition and diversity, reflected in an increase of either the S or F type in a cell.

Veratrine supports the in vitro survival of embryonic chick sympathetic neurons

Veratrine (VT), an alkaloid known to act on the sodium channels and cause depolarization of a cell membrane, was found to support the survival of cultured sympathetic neurons. At 30 microM it was as effective as nerve growth factor (NGF), as determined by the cell counts and [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) uptake. Protein kinase C (PKC) activity of the surviving neurons was measured because of our previous finding that depolarizing concentrations of K+ support the survival and cause several fold increase in the enzyme activity. An acute treatment of NGF-supported sympathetic neurons by VT did not alter PKC activity.

Differential development of cholinergic neurons from cranial and trunk neural crest cells in vitro

Several studies have suggested that the development of cholinergic properties in cranial parasympathetic neurons is determined by these cells' axial level of origin in the neural crest. All cranial parasympathetic neurons normally derive from cranial neural crest. Trunk neural crest cells give rise to sympathetic neurons, most of which are noradrenergic. To determine if there is an intrinsic difference in the ability of cranial and trunk neural crest cells to form cholinergic neurons, we have compared the development of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive cells in explants of quail cranial and trunk neural crest in vitro. Both cranial and trunk neural crest explants gave rise to ChAT-immunoreactive cells in vitro. In both types of cultures, some of the ChAT-positive cells also expressed immunoreactivity for the catecholamine synthetic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. However, several differences were seen between cranial and trunk cultures. First, ChAT-immunoreactive cells appeared two days earlier in cranial than in trunk cultures. Second, cranial cultures contained a higher proportion of ChAT-immunoreactive cells. Finally, a subpopulation of the ChAT-immunoreactive cells in cranial cultures exhibited neuronal traits, including neurofilament immunoreactivity. In contrast, neurofilament-immunoreactive cells were not seen in trunk cultures. These results suggest that premigratory cranial and trunk neural crest cells differ in their ability to form cholinergic neurons.

Survival of chick embryonic sensory neurons in culture is supported by phorbol esters

Sensory neurons of the chick embryo are supported in culture by several neurotrophic factors, including the phorbol esters. Because phorbol esters are known to activate one of the second messengers, namely, protein kinase C, it was of interest to see if the neurotrophic action of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) was related to the activation of protein kinase C in sensory neurons. Sensory neurons were obtained from dorsal root ganglia of 10-day-old chick embryos and maintained in a serum-free medium for several days to quantify survival and analyze protein kinase C activity. PDB (30 nM) supported the survival of approximately 50% of the total number of neurons plated. This value was comparable to that supported by nerve growth factor (NGF; 40 ng/ml). If PDB and NGF were added together, there was no additive effect on the survival. The protein kinase C activity of the particulate and cytosolic fractions of sensory neurons supported by NGF for 3 days was 1.26 +/- 0.1 and 2.9 +/- 0.32 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. In contrast, neurons supported by PDB showed an approximately 500% increase in enzyme activity in their particulate fraction. The enzyme activity of the cytosolic fraction was decreased by approximately 40%. If NGF-supported neurons were treated with PDB (30 nM) for 15 min, protein kinase C activity increased greater than 400% in the particulate fraction, whereas an approximately 50% decrease was observed in the cytosolic fraction. The protein kinase C value, expressed as a ratio of the activities in the particulate to cytosol fractions, showed large increases after phorbol treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential effects of the protein kinase inhibitor K-252a on the in vitro survival of chick embryonic neurons

The effects of the protein kinase inhibitor K-252a on the in vitro survival of different populations of chick embryonic neurons were tested. Following dissociation from the corresponding ganglia by trituration, the neurons were cultured on laminin-coated dishes in both the presence and absence of their respective neurotrophic factor. K-252a alone promoted long-term neuronal survival of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and ciliary ganglion (CG) neurons in a dose-dependent fashion. No such effect was seen with sympathetic ganglion (SG) neurons. In addition, K-252a did not interfere with nerve growth factor (NGF)- or ciliary neuronotrophic factor (CNTF)-mediated survival of DRG or CG neurons, respectively, but completely blocked the NGF- and CNTF-induced survival of SG neurons. High potassium-induced survival of SG neurons was not affected by K-252a. These results point to differences between various neuronal populations in the signal transduction mechanism for neurotrophic factors.

Multiple neurotrophic factors from skeletal muscle: demonstration of effects of basic fibroblast growth factor and comparisons with the 22-kilodalton choline acetyltransferase development factor

Extracts of skeletal muscle contain chromatographically distinct molecules that enhance the cholinergic development of cultured embryonic rat spinal cord neurons. We have recently purified a 20-22 kilodalton anionic polypeptide choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) development factor (CDF) from rat skeletal muscle extracts that stimulates the development of ChAT activity in rat spinal cord cultures. The maximum increase in the level of ChAT activity achieved by this factor, however, is less than that achieved by the addition of the crude extract. We now show that muscle extract also contains mitogenic activity that is immunologically related to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and also that recombinant bFGF stimulates ChAT development in rat spinal cord cultures. bFGF, however, differs from CDF in its physiochemical, chromatographic, and immunological properties and by its action on nonneuronal cells. Individually, CDF and bFGF each enhance the level of ChAT activity in rat spinal cord cultures two- to threefold after 2 days of treatment. However, their combined actions result in a five- to sixfold enhancement of ChAT activity, suggesting that they are affecting cholinergic development through different means. The demonstration that extracts of rat skeletal muscle contain two biochemically and immunologically distinct polypeptides, with additive effects on cultured embryonic spinal cord neurons, provides additional evidence for the involvement of multiple target-derived neurotrophic factors in the regulation of cholinergic development.

The survival of early chick sympathetic neurons in vitro is dependent on a suitable substrate but independent of NGF

The neuronal cell population of lumbosacral sympathetic ganglia from 7-day-old chick embryos is characterized by a high proportion of cells with the ability to proliferate in culture (Rohrer and Thoenen, 1987). It is now demonstrated that neither proliferation nor survival of these neurons depend on the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF). However, neuronal survival did depend on the culture substrate used: on laminin, E7 neurons survived and their number increased due to proliferation, whereas on fibronectin (FN) or a substrate of molecules from heart cell-conditioned medium (HCM) a significant number of the cells died during early culture periods. Less than 70 and 50% of the number of neurons surviving on a laminin substrate were found on FN and HCM, respectively, after 3 days in culture. Although NGF did not affect neuronal survival, a small increase in neurite extension on these substrates was observed in the presence of NGF. Furthermore, although NGF did not prevent neuronal death after extended culture periods, this could be prevented by elevated extracellular potassium concentrations. Sympathetic neurons of E8 chick embryos however showed a strikingly different response to NGF compared with those of E7: whereas neuronal survival on laminin was not influenced by NGF, a significant effect of NGF on survival and on neurite extension was observed for E8 neurons on a HCM substrate. In contrast to cells from E7 and E8 embryos, the majority of neurons from E11 chick embryos required NGF for survival even on a laminin substrate as described previously (D. Edgar, R. Timpl, and H. Thoenen, 1984, EMBO J. 3, 1463-1468). These results demonstrate that while sympathetic neurons from E7 chick embryos do not depend on the soluble neurotrophic factor NGF for survival in vitro, they are dependent on molecules of the extracellular matrix. With increasing age, the survival requirements demonstrated in vitro change toward the classical pattern of NGF dependency. Low amounts of laminin-like immunoreactivity were shown to be present in sympathetic ganglia of E7 chick embryos which were then shown to increase as development proceeded. These data indicate that laminin may play a role in the survival and development of chick sympathetic neurons not only in vitro, but also in vivo.

Development changes of growth factors for parasympathetic neurons secreted by their target cells in vitro

Trophic activities in conditioned media (CM) on target cells were quantified for their ability to maintain survival and promote neurite outgrowth of dissociated ciliary ganglia (CG) neurons from 8 day-old chick embryos in culture. CM on target cells were obtained at different stages of development. The ability of CMs to maintain neuronal survival increased almost 4-fold between 5 and 9 embryonic days, and then it was kept constant. On the other hand, neurite promoting activity was similar in all ages except in 8 days old CM that was doubled.

Catecholaminergic cells and support cell precursors in neural crest cultures differentially express nerve growth factor receptors

Long-term neural crest cultures grown in the continuous absence of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) contain a subpopulation of cells with NGF receptors exclusively of the low affinity subtype (Kd of approximately 3.2 nM). The current studies combined immunocytochemistry, using GIN1 (a support cell marker) or tyrosine hydroxylase antibodies, with radioautography following exposure to iodinated nerve growth factor (125I-NGF). The majority of cells specifically binding 125I-NGF were found to be immunoreactive for GIN1, indicating that the primary cell phenotype expressing receptors for NGF appear to be support cell precursors, at least under these conditions. These cells are likely to be responsive to and/or dependent upon NGF; the nature of this response or dependency remains to be determined. Some cells exhibiting silver grains were not immunoreactive for GIN1, suggesting that other cell phenotypes in neural crest cultures also have NGF receptors. In addition, some neural crest cells were found that stained with GIN1 and lacked 125I-NGF binding. Tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive cells apparently did not bind 125I-NGF under these culture conditions. Catecholaminergic sympathetic and sensory neurons from embryonic ganglia, derived from the neural crest, express both the high and low affinity forms of the NGF receptor. In order to determine whether the microenvironment played a role in the type of catecholaminergic cells appearing in culture, neural crest cells were grown in the continuous presence of exogenous NGF. Under these conditions, many tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive cells were found that specifically bound 125I-NGF. In addition, silver grains were still detected on these cells following a chase with nonradioactive NGF, designed to eliminate 125I-NGF bound to low affinity sites. Therefore, the catecholaminergic cells possess both the low and high affinity forms of the receptor. NGF's ability to modulate tyrosine hydroxylase activity, as it does in mature catecholaminergic neurons, was tested in this system. Surprisingly, there was no statistically significant difference in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in cultures grown in the absence or presence of exogenous NGF. This raises the possibility that embryonic catecholaminergic cells are unable to respond to NGF in this specific way, even though the receptors for the factor are present.

Age-dependent responses of ciliary ganglion neurons to conditioned media on cells at different stages of embryonic development

Neurons from ciliary ganglia (CG) from 8 to 14 day-old chick embryos were cultured in presence of conditioned media (CM) by eye tissue cells (ETC) on nonneuronal cells from ciliary ganglia (NFGC). These conditioning cells were obtained from 8 and 14 day-old embryos. Two parameters, surviving neurons and neurons displaying neurites, were determined after 48 h of culture. For neuronal survival, CMs did not show an effect on CG14 neurons. In the other neuronal ages ETC-CMs maintained a similar neuronal survival, whereas NFGC-CMs were more effective on older neurons. CM14 media were more effective maintaining neuronal survival than CM8 media respectives. The number of neurons displaying neurites decreased with neuronal ages in presence of all CMs. ETC8-CM was the better promoting neurite extension in all neuronal ages tested.

Demonstration of adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors in cultured sympathetic neurons--their coupling to cAMP but not to the transmitter release process

Experiments were carried out on cultured sympathetic neurons of the chick embryo; first, to demonstrate the presence of adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors, and then to see if these receptors are involved in regulation of transmitter release. We show that alpha 2-agonists, norepinephrine, epinephrine and clonidine, had no effect on neuronal cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate content. Forskolin enhanced neuronal cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate from a control value of about 20 pmoles/mg protein to 150 pmoles/mg protein. In the presence of alpha 2-agonists and forskolin the cyclic 3,5'-adenosine monophosphate content increased between 340 and 430 pmoles/mg protein. The alpha 1-agonist, phenylephrine, had no such effect. The facilitatory effect of alpha 2-agonist on forskolin-stimulated cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate production was blocked by the alpha 2-antagonist, yohimbine, but not the alpha 1-agonist, prazosin. Dopamine did not affect neuronal cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate content, but forskolin-stimulated increase in cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate was further facilitated by dopamine, and this effect was blocked by haloperidol. Activation of neuronal alpha 2-receptors by norepinephrine, epinephrine and clonidine did not interfere with electrically induced release of tritium from [3H]-norepinephrine-loaded sympathetic neurons. However, if sympathetic neurons were co-cultured with heart cells, clonidine, norepinephrine and epinephrine markedly inhibited the stimulation-induced release. Yohimbine or phentolamine partially reversed the inhibitory effects of alpha 2-agonists. alpha 2-Agonists and -antagonists also modified stimulation-induced release of tritium from [3H]norepinephrine-loaded hearts of the chick embryo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of transmitter release properties of embryonic sympathetic neurons growing in vivo and in vitro

The functional behavior of embryonic chick sympathetic neurons was determined by inducing release of [3H]norepinephrine by electrical stimulation of sympathetic neurons growing in the chick heart and in culture, with and without heart cells. A very close correspondence between the functional behavior of neurons developing with the heart cells, either in vivo or in vitro, was demonstrated. For example, the outflow of tritium from [3H]norepinephrine loaded sympathetic neurons of 15-day-old chick heart was about three times more at 10 Hz than at 1 Hz. In contrast, the outflow of tritium from 12-day-old [3H]norepinephrine loaded cultured sympathetic neurons was inversely related to the frequency of stimulation (outflow at 1 Hz was about three time more than at 10 Hz). When neurons were co-cultured with the heart cells, the frequency-outflow relationship reverted to that seen in the intact heart. Electrically-evoked outflow of tritium from the heart was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner by 3-30 nM tetrodotoxin, abolished in 0.25 mM Ca medium, and potentiated by 3 mM tetraethylammonium. In sharp contrast, the outflow evoked by stimulation of cultured neurons was neither blocked by 30-300 nM tetrodotoxin, low Ca, nor potentiated by tetraethylammonium. However, when neurons were co-cultured with heart cells, the evoked outflow was blocked by 30 nM tetrodotoxin and low Ca, and potentiated by tetraethylammonium. Veratrine (10 microM) had very little effect on the outflow from cultured neurons but induced a massive outflow from co-cultures as well as hearts. Neurons grown in a medium conditioned by the heart cells were not sensitive to tetrodotoxin and veratrine. It is implied that cultured sympathetic neurons are endowed mostly with Ca channels, and that the Na channels become functional only when neurons are grown with the target cells. This dramatic alteration in the functional behavior of neurons co-cultured with heart cells indicates that the effector organ has an important role in the development of ionic conductances of sympathetic neurons growing in the body and in culture.

Differential susceptibility of prevertebral and paravertebral sympathetic ganglia to experimental injury

To investigate the response of selected sympathetic ganglia to experimental injury, neonatal rat pups were treated with either 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), guanethidine, or antiserum to nerve growth factor (anti-NGF). When examined at one month of age, each of the treatments resulted in a significantly greater loss of neurons and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in paravertebral (superior cervical and stellate) versus prevertebral (superior mesenteric and celiac) sympathetic ganglia. Guanethidine treatment produced the largest differential in neuron loss and tyrosine hydroxylase activity between pre- and paravertebral ganglia. Histologically, the acute phase of guanethidine-induced injury in the superior cervical, paravertebral, ganglia was characterized by a prominent mononuclear cell infiltrate and extensive neuronal degeneration. Minimal histopathologic changes were seen in the superior mesenteric, prevertebral, ganglia of the same animals. Immunolocalization of tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in guanethidine-treated animals showed a preferential loss of sympathetic innervation of the extramural mesenteric vasculature with relative sparing of the noradrenergic innervation of Auerbach's myenteric plexus. Differences in the susceptibility of sympathetic ganglia to various insults may underlie the selective and heterogeneous involvement of sympathetic ganglia in clinical and experimental situations.

Cholinergic properties of embryonic chick sensory neurons

Experiments were carried out to determine the cholinergic properties of sensory neurons of the chick embryo by measuring the choline acetyltransferase activity (ChAT) and [3H]choline uptake. The choline acetyltransferase activity in the dorsal root ganglia of an 8-day-old chick embryo was 24.2 +/- 2.52, which increased to 45.4 +/- 9.69 pmol ACh/mg protein/min in the ganglia of 12-day-old embryos. Sensory neurons derived from dorsal root ganglia of 10-day-old embryos and maintained in a serum-free culture medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin and nerve growth factor (NGF) also contained significant amounts of ChAT (21.9 pmol ACh/mg protein/min). Omission of NGF resulted in neuronal death, and the enzyme activity could not be measured in these cultures. A specific inhibitor of ChAT, hydroxyethyl naphthylvinyl pyridine (NVP), when added to the assay mix produced a dose-dependent inhibition of ChAT from cultured neurons. Cultured sensory neurons incubated with [3H]choline followed by repeated washouts took up and retained [3H]choline. The uptake of [3H]choline was reduced by about 45% when NaCl, in the incubation medium, was replaced by LiCl. A specific inhibitor of choline uptake, hemicholinium-3, caused about 75% inhibition of [3H]choline uptake. It is implied that sensory neurons of the chick dorsal root ganglia express cholinergic properties during development.

Excess K+ and phorbol ester activate protein kinase C and support the survival of chick sympathetic neurons in culture

The effects of phorbol esters were investigated on the survival of chick sympathetic neurons in a serum-free culture medium. The protein kinase C activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) supported about 40% of the plated sympathetic neurons. This number was comparable to that supported by nerve growth factor (NGF). A combination of phorbol ester and NGF did not significantly increase the number of surviving neurons. Phorbol ester-supported sympathetic neurons possessed desipramine-sensitive [3H]-norepinephrine uptake mechanism, and therefore were noradrenegic in character. Two days after the start of cultures, if NGF was replaced by phorbol ester, or phorbol ester was replaced by NGF, the number of surviving sympathetic neurons was essentially the same in both groups, and the uptake of [3H]norepinephrine was also comparable when examined 2 days after the switchover. Interchangeability between phorbol ester and NGF in the survival of sympathetic neurons suggests that both agents act on the same subpopulation of neurons of the chick sympathetic ganglia. The protein kinase C activity of cytosol and particulate fractions of NGF-supported neurons was 0.14 and 0.09 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. In phorbol ester-supported neurons the activity in the particulate fraction increased by about fivefold. Removal of the phorbol ester after 2 days resulted in restoration of the enzyme activity in less than 1 h, and readdition of the phorbol ester again increased the activity by fivefold. When NGF was added to these neurons (1 microgram for 15 min), there was no change in the enzyme activity. Phorbol 13-acetate was ineffective in supporting sympathetic neurons in culture, as well as in enhancing protein kinase C activity. We also compared the protein kinase C activity of sympathetic neurons supported in culture by NGF and excess potassium (35 mM K+) Neurons supported in culture by 35 mM K+ for 2 days had almost eightfold more protein kinase C activity in their particulate fraction than in cytosol fraction. In NGF-supported neurons were acutely treated with excess K+, the protein kinase C activity was increased in the particulate fraction by about sevenfold in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Excess K+ plus phorbol ester did not produce an additive effect on protein kinase C activity. PDB and excess K+ had no effect on cyclic AMP content of sympathetic neurons. In summary, the present data suggest that the neurotrophic action of PDB and excess K+ is probably mediated through protein kinase C.

Protein kinase C of sympathetic neuronal membrane is activated by phorbol ester--correlation between transmitter release, 45Ca2+ uptake, and the enzyme activity

The effects of phorbol esters [phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB), 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), and phorbol 13-acetate] were investigated on the release of [3H]norepinephrine, 45Ca2+ accumulation, and protein kinase C activity in cultured sympathetic neurons of the chick embryo. Sympathetic neurons derived from 10-day-old chick embryo were cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin, and nerve growth factor. After 3 days, neurons were loaded with [3H]-norepinephrine and the release of [3H]norepinephrine was determined before and after electrical stimulation. Stimulation at 1 Hz for 15 s increased the release of [3H]-norepinephrine over the nonstimulation period. Stimulation-evoked release gradually declined with time during subsequent stimulation periods. Incubation of neurons in Ca2+-free Krebs solution containing 1 mM EGTA completely blocked stimulation-evoked release of [3H]-norepinephrine. Stimulation-evoked release of [3H]-norepinephrine was markedly facilitated by 3 and 10 nM PDB or TPA. The spontaneous release was also enhanced by PDB and TPA. The net accumulation of 45Ca2+ during stimulation of sympathetic neurons was increased by two- to fourfold in the presence of PDB or TPA. PDB at 1-100 nM produced a concentration-dependent increase in the activation of protein kinase C. PDB at 30 nM increased the activity of protein kinase C of the particulate fraction from 0.09 to 0.58 pmol/min/mg protein. There was no significant change in protein kinase C activity of the cytosolic fraction (0.14 pmol/min/mg versus 0.13 pmol/min/mg protein). The ratio of the particulate to cytosolic protein kinase C increased from a control value of 0.62 to 4.39 after treatment with 30 nM PDB. TPA (10 and 30 nM) also increased protein kinase C activity of the particulate fraction by six- to eightfold. Phorbol 13-acetate had no effect on protein kinase C activity, [3H]norepinephrine release, and 45Ca2+ accumulation. These results provide direct evidence that activation of protein kinase C enhances Ca2+ accumulation, which in turn leads to the facilitation of transmitter release in sympathetic neurons.

Facilitation of noradrenergic character of sympathetic neurons by co-culturing with heart cells

Noradrenergic properties of peripheral sympathetic neurons obtained from 10-12-day-old chick embryos were examined under various culture conditions. Sympathetic neurons supported by nerve growth factor in serum-free or serum-containing medium took up significant and almost equivalent amounts of [3H]norepinephrine. The uptake was markedly enhanced when neurons were co-cultured with heart cells, either in the absence or presence of nerve growth factor, for 3 days. The facilitatory effect of heart cells on the uptake was persistent only if the nerve growth factor was present. In its absence there was a gradual decrease in the uptake. Endogenous norepinephrine content was increased by several fold when sympathetic neurons were grown with either heart cells or in a medium conditioned by the heart cells. Sympathetic neurons initially selected in culture by nerve growth factor in regular medium and then exposed to a conditioned medium for 3 days exhibited a marked facilitation of [3H]norepinephrine uptake. The number of surviving neurons was almost constant when culture media were changed. Choline acetyltransferase activity of neurons grown in heart-conditioned medium plus nerve growth factor was not significantly higher than that of neurons grown in regular medium plus nerve growth factor. The overall conclusion of the study is that the noradrenergic character of sympathetic neurons can be further enhanced by heart cells or a medium conditioned by these cells.

Neural cell adhesion molecule regulates cell contact-mediated changes in choline acetyltransferase activity of embryonic chick sympathetic neurons

E10 chick sympathetic ganglion cells display a cell contact-dependent rise in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) specific activity over the first several days in culture. This effect can be mimicked by addition of crude membrane fractions prepared from E10 retina and adult chicken brain, but not by those from E10 brain. The effects of both cell-cell and membrane-cell contact are inhibited by the addition of anti-NCAM Fab fragments. The membranes capable of increasing ChAT and those which are ineffective all contain NCAM, however their relative levels of NCAM polysialic acid differ. Whereas membranes with high polysialic acid NCAM are ineffective, selective enzymatic removal of polysialic acid renders them capable of producing an increase in ChAT. The inhibition of NCAM-mediated adhesion produced by Fab fragments can be compensated for by addition of wheat germ agglutinin, but only with membranes whose NCAM has low levels of polysialic acid. Taken together, these data suggest that NCAM can regulate cell contact-mediated increases in ChAT activity. We propose that NCAM-mediated adhesion promotes contact between cell membranes to allow the transmission of an otherwise NCAM-independent signal. In addition, NCAM's polysialic acid moiety appears to influence the ability of cells to transmit this signal, even in the presence of an alternative adhesion mechanism.

Stimulation of nerve growth factor mRNA content in C6 glioma cells by a beta-adrenergic receptor and by cyclic AMP

Authentic beta-nerve growth factor mRNA, approximately 1.35 kb in size, has been detected by Northern blot analysis in C6 glioma cells. Exposure of the cells to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol leads to a three- to fourfold increase in NGF mRNA, which reaches a peak by 2 hr. The EC50 for this effect of isoproterenol is approximately 2nM. The effect can be blocked by the beta-blocker propranolol but not by the alpha-blocker phenoxybenzamine. Treatment of the cells with forskolin also increases NGF mRNA three- to fourfold, with a maximal effect by 2 hr. The stimulation of NGF mRNA by maximal concentrations of forskolin and isoproterenol is not additive; similarly, the two drugs have a nonadditive effect on cyclic AMP content. The results suggest that NGF gene transcription can be stimulated via increases in intracellular cyclic AMP and that regulation of NGF production by glial cells may occur via activation of cell-surface neurotransmitter receptors such as the beta-adrenergic receptor.

Distinct neurotrophic factors from skeletal muscle and the central nervous system interact synergistically to support the survival of cultured embryonic spinal motor neurons

Motor neurons isolated from 6-day-old embryonic chick spinal cords require muscle extract for survival in culture; however, it was found, that some motor neurons, identified by retrograde labeling with rhodamine, will survive in mixed spinal cell cultures in the absence of the extract. The motor neuron survival-promoting activity produced by spinal cells is soluble and differs from the factor present in muscle extract, the two activities acting in a synergistic manner: the spinal cell activity potentiated that of muscle to decrease its ED50 by an order of magnitude, the motor neuronal survival (30%) seen in the presence of both factors being more than the sum of their individual activities. This synergism was shown to be restricted to the action of the spinal cell factor on motor neurons, no effect of the factor being noted with sympathetic neurons. As a series of defined growth and survival factors present in the central nervous system (nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors) had no effect on motor neuron survival, we conclude that the molecule responsible for the motor neuron survival-promoting activity of the spinal cells is a previously undefined factor.

Chick eye extract promotes expression of a cholinergic enzyme in sympathetic ganglia in culture

Previous studies have demonstrated that, in rat, individual sympathetic neurons can express both adrenergic and cholinergic biosynthetic enzymes in culture. Moreover, the levels of these enzymes can be regulated by factors present in their environment. In the present study, we sought to determine whether cultures of chick sympathetic neurons express both adrenergic and cholinergic enzymes, whether both enzymes are expressed in the same neurons, and whether the levels of these enzymes can be influenced by environmental factors. In our system, we tested one such factor found in embryonic eye extract (EEE) which has been shown to specifically increase the activity of the cholinergic enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in cultures of chick parasympathetic neurons Varon et al., Brain Res., 173 (1979) 29-45; Nishi and Berg. J. Neurosci., 1 (1981) 505-513). At various times in vitro, cultures were analyzed using biochemical, immunocytochemical and autoradiographic techniques. We found that only those cultures of sympathetic neurons supplemented with EEE developed detectable levels of ChAT enzyme activity at 2 days, which increased significantly by 14 days in vitro. Supplementation with EEE did not affect the level of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity. Furthermore, irrespective of nutrient medium, all neurons in all cultures contained TH immunoreactivity and possessed a high-affinity amine uptake system as demonstrated by autoradiography. These studies suggest that neurons of chick sympathetic ganglia can be influenced by factors present in EEE to express a cholinergic enzyme and that this enzyme is coexpressed by cells also exhibiting an adrenergic phenotype.