Effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide and galanin on survival of cultured porcine myenteric neurons
Author
Summary, in English
Enteric neuronal plasticity is probably fundamental in order to withstand injury or changes in intestinal activity. The role of the neuropeptides in neuroprotection is still enigmatic. The expression of galanin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the effects of the two peptides on survival of small intestinal porcine myenteric neurons cultured for 6 days were studied. Immunocytochemistry and cell counting were used to evaluate the numbers of surviving neurons and their expression of galanin and VIP. To reflect the in vivo situation, cryostat sections of porcine mid-jejunum were used. A concentration-dependent and marked increase in neuronal survival was noted when neurons were grown in the presence of VIP (10(-8) - 10(-6) M), whereas addition of galanin (10(-8) - 10(-6) M) slightly decreased neuronal survival. A dramatic increase in the proportions of myenteric neurons containing VIP or galanin immunoreactivity occurred during culturing. The presence of VIP further increased the number of galanin-expressing neurons. A majority of the galanin-immunoreactive neurons lacked VIP, while all VIP-immunoreactive neurons contained galanin. In conclusion, culturing porcine myenteric neurons in the presence of VIP increases, while the presence of galanin reduces, survival. Culturing significantly increased the proportion of neurons expressing VIP and/or galanin; the presence of VIP further increased the number of galanin-expressing neurons.
Department/s
- Neurogastroenterology
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Pages
185-192
Publication/Series
Regulatory Peptides
Volume
125
Issue
1-3
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Cell and Molecular Biology
Keywords
- cell culture
- enteric nervous system
- neuronal plasticity
- survival
- neuronal
- neuropeptide expression
Status
Published
Research group
- Neurogastroenterology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1873-1686