Expression of calcium-binding proteins in the neurotrophin-3-dependent subpopulation of rat embryonic dorsal root ganglion cells in culture

• Published in: Brain research. Developmental brain research Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 57 - 65
• Main Authors: Copray, J.C.V.M., Mantingh-Otter, I.J., Brouwer, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 12.08.1994
• Subjects: Animals; Calbindin 1; Calbindin 2; Calbindin-D28k; Calbindins; Calcium-binding protein; Calcium-Binding Proteins - biosynthesis; Calretinin; Cell Size - physiology; Cell Survival - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Dorsal root ganglion; Eye Proteins - biosynthesis; Ganglia, Spinal - metabolism; Ganglia, Spinal - ultrastructure; Immunohistochemistry; Nerve Growth Factors - physiology; Neurites - metabolism; Neurites - ultrastructure; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - ultrastructure; Neurotrophic factor; Neurotrophin 3; Parvalbumin; Parvalbumins - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G - biosynthesis; Neurotrophic factor; Neurotrophin-3; Calretinin; Calcium-binding protein; Calbindin-D28k; Dorsal root ganglion; Parvalbumin
• ISSN: 0165-3806
• DOI: 10.1016/0165-3806(94)90068-X

In this study we have examined the calcium-binding protein expression in rat embryonic (E16) dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons in vitro in the presence of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). A comparison was made with the expression of calcium-binding proteins in DRG subpopulations that depended in vitro on nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our results show that NT-3 promotes the survival of a DRG subpopulation of which over 75% expresses parvalbumin (PV). The majority of these PV-positive NT-3-dependent DRG neurons were large ‘type A’ neurons. Expression of calbindin-D28k (CaBP) and calretinin (Calr) in the NT-3-dependent DRG population was seen in smaller fractions (between 12 and 17%) of the surviving DRG neurons and in both type A and B neurons. The preferential expression of PV in NT-3-dependent type A neurons is unique in comparison to the expression of PV and the other calcium-binding proteins in DRG neurons surviving in vitro in the presence of NGF or BDNF.