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Specific effects of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on fetal rat and human dopaminergic neurons in vitro

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Abstract

The neurotrophic effects of the BB isoform of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on rat and human fetal mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons have been characterized in vitro. A dose-response analysis demonstrated maximal responses at 30 ng/ml of PDGF-BB. This concentration resulted in a marked increase in the survival and neurite outgrowth from rat and human tyrosine hydroxylase-(TH) positive, presumed dopaminergic neurons after 7 days in vitro. The effects of PDGF-BB on survival of TH-positive neurons were comparable to those of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whereas neurite outgrowth was more pronounced after addition of BDNF. The combination of BDNF and PDGF-BB yielded no additive effects. Double immunohistochemical staining of rat cultures demonstrated PDGF β-receptors on about 90% of the TH-positive neurons. PDGF-BB treatment of rat mesencephalic cultures induced an upregulation of c-fos and TH mRNA with maximal levels after 0.5–2 h as assessed by quantitative PCR analysis. An increased number of Fos protein-positive cells was detected immunohistochemically after 4 h of PDGF-BB treatment. The present results provide further evidence for specific and direct effects of PDGF-BB on gene expression, survival and neurite outgrowth of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons of rat and human origin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Restorative Neurology Unit, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden

    Agneta Othberg, Per Odin & Olle Lindvall

  2. Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Centre, Box 595, S-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden

    Andrea Ballagi, Aive ÅAhgren & Keiko Funa

Authors
  1. Agneta Othberg
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  2. Per Odin
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  3. Andrea Ballagi
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  4. Aive ÅAhgren
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  5. Keiko Funa
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  6. Olle Lindvall
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Othberg, A., Odin, P., Ballagi, A. et al. Specific effects of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on fetal rat and human dopaminergic neurons in vitro. Exp Brain Res 105, 111–122 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00242187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00242187

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