EFFECTS OF NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR ON X-IRRADIATED REAGGREGATION CULTURESOF RAT-BRAIN CELLS

The effects of exogenously added nerve growth factor (NGF) on reaggreg ation cultures of foetal rat brain cells after X-irradiation with 2 Gy were studied. Irradiation caused decreased protein and DNA levels, wh ich was not prevented by NGF. The activities of the cholinergic marker enzymes choline acetyl transferase and acetylcholine esterase were in creased in irradiated cultures. However, no difference in the activiti es of these enzymes was found between irradiated and unirradiated NGF- treated cultures. Irradiation did not affect the activity of the marke r enzyme for oligodendrocytes (2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiest erase), but caused an increase in the astrocyte marker (glutamine synt hetase) activity. This effect on astrocytes was prevented by NGF.