Cultured rat Schwann cells express low affinity receptors for nerve growth factor

Brain Res. 1987 Dec 8;436(1):113-9. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(87)91562-9.

Abstract

Schwann cell cultures prepared from postnatal Sprague-Dawley rat sciatic nerves were used to demonstrate the presence of specific receptors for the beta-subunit of nerve growth factor (NGF) on rat Schwann cells. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antineuronal NGF receptor (NGFR) antibody indicated that NGFR antigen was expressed on the surface of Schwann cells but not of endoneurial fibroblasts. Studies with 125I-NGF confirmed this distribution of NGFR in the cultures and showed that the Schwann cell NGFR had a single NGF binding affinity (Kd of 1.8 x 10(-9) M). 125I-NGF binding by the cultured Schwann cells increased with time in vitro, reaching a plateau level on the 4th day, but decreased with increasing age, reaching 40% of the neonatal value in Schwann cells isolated from 12-day-old rats. Treatment of the cultures with NGF did not alter Schwann cell phenotype, survival or proliferation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Nerve Growth Factors / analysis*
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / analysis*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
  • Schwann Cells / analysis*
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor