Differential effects of VIP and PACAP on survival of cultured adult rat myenteric neurons.
Author
Summary, in English
Our knowledge of neuroprotective factors important for the adult enteric nervous system is poor. Changes in expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) in enteric neurons in response to neuronal injury or colchicine treatment, as well as in intestinal adaptation, have been described. Cultured myenteric neurons increase their expression of VIP; furthermore, culturing myenteric neurons in the presence of VIP enhances neuronal survival. The aims of this study were to evaluate possible changes in PACAP expression in dissociated and cultured myenteric neurons from adult rat small intestine, and to determine the ability of PACAP-38 and PACAP-27 to promote survival of cultured myenteric neurons, as compared with that of VIP. A marked decrease in the number of surviving neurons was noted during culturing. No difference in neuronal survival was found after culturing in the presence of PACAP-38 or PACAP-27, whereas VIP significantly increased neuronal survival. In contrast to the marked increase noted in the number of VIP-expressing neurons, culturing caused no change in the number of PACAP-expressing myenteric neurons. We were thus able to demonstrate that VIP, but not PACAP, promoted survival of myenteric neurons in culture. This suggests the presence of a VIP-specific receptor mediating neuroprotection in adult myenteric neurons.
Department/s
Publishing year
2003
Language
English
Pages
211-217
Publication/Series
Regulatory Peptides
Volume
111
Issue
1-3
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Cell and Molecular Biology
Keywords
- Neuroprotection
- Enteric nervous system
- VIP-specific receptor
- Neuronal survival
- Neurotransmitter expression
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1873-1686