TROPHIC ACTIONS OF 2-CHLOROADENOSINE AND BFGF ON CULTURED MYENTERIC NEURONS

THE effects of the stable adenosine analogue, 2-chloro-adenosine (2-CA ) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on myenteric neurones in d issociated cell culture were examined. 2-CA had no effect on neuronal numbers, but increased neurite length, in a dose-dependent manner. bFG F increased both the number of myenteric neurones and neurite length. When 2-CA was applied together with bFGF, an enhanced increase in neur ite outgrowth, but no additional increase in neuronal numbers was obse rved. 2-CA-induced effects were blocked by the adenosine antagonist 8- (p-sulphophenyl)theophylline. These results show, for the first time, that both purines and bFGF may have trophic actions on myenteric neuro nes and also indicate that purines enhance some effects of bFGF, in a synergistic manner.