EXTRACELLULAR GUANOSINE AND GUANOSINE-5'-TRIPHOSPHATE INCREASE - NGF SYNTHESIS AND RELEASE FROM CULTURED MOUSE NEOPALLIAL ASTROCYTES

Cultures of neonatal mouse cortical astrocytes synthesized NGF mRNA an d released immunoreactive NGF (ir-NGF) into the culture medium. Additi on of 10 mu M guanosine or GTP to the cultures increased ir-NGF releas e by 6 and 2 fold, respectively, after 24 h, and increased NGF mRNA 6 fold after 4 h and 2-3 fold after 24 h. In contrast, neither adenosine nor ATP (each 1-100 mu M) affected either NGF mRNA synthesis or ir-NG F release.