S. Ueda et al., SEROTONERGIC SPROUTING INTO TRANSPLANTED C-6 GLIOMAS IS BLOCKED BY S-100-BETA ANTISENSE GENE, Molecular brain research, 29(2), 1995, pp. 365-368
S-100 beta, a calcium binding protein produced by astrocytes, has been
proposed to be a neuronotropic agent. In order to test the tropic eff
ects of S-100 beta in vivo, the technique of cell transplantation was
used. C6 glioma cells and C6 cells containing a S-100 beta antisense g
ene (C6AS) were transplanted into contralateral hippocampi. 5-HT immun
oreactive, varicose fibers with a normal appearance penetrated into th
e glioma mass and were seen in high density around the C6 cell mass. H
owever, 5-HT fibers with enlarged, abnormal varicosities were seen bor
dering C6AS tissue and were very rarely observed within the C6AS cell
mass. Extracellular S-100 beta from normal C6 cells may function as a
growth factor on sprouting serotonergic fibers.