Neurotrophic effect of ceruletide and LH-RH on ventral spinal cord in culture
Iwasaki, Y.; Kinoshita, M.; Ikeda, K.; Shiojima, T.
Rinsho Shinkeigaku 29(11): 1407-1409
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-918X PMID: 2696615 Document Number: 342647
This experiment was undertaken in order to study the probable trophic effect of ceruletide and LH-RH on cultured ventral spinal cord. The ventral spinal cord from 13-14-gestational day rat embryos were explanted, following a conventional culturing method. Explants in the culture medium were fed ceruletide and LH-RH at different concentrations. An equal volume of PBS was administered to the control explants. For quantitative analysis of the trophic effect of ceruletide and LH-RH, a numerical score from 0 to 4 was determined at the 7th culture day, based on the length and extension of neurite growth estimated. The presence of ceruletide, the neuritic extension of ventral spinal cord exceeds control values 3.5-6.3 times. The growth zone of the spinal cord explants increases in the ceruletide treated culture, LH-RH treated culture, on the other hand, had no promoting effect on neurite growth. The possible mechanism of trophic effect of ceruletide on cultured ventral spinal cord was briefly discussed. These experimental observation have important implications regarding to potential therapeutic effects of ceruletide n amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.