COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF ALPHA-MSH AND B-FGF ON NEURITE EXTENSION OF FETAL-RAT SPINAL-CORD NEURONS IN CULTURE

Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) and alpha melanocyte stimulatin g hormone (alpha-MSH) were tested for their ability to promote axonal elongation on E14 fetal rat spinal cord cell culture, and to support c ell survival. A similar development of neurite was observed in alpha-M SH treated cultures or in control cultures, with an axonal length rang ing from 87.50 mu m to 195.60 mu m on day 3. Complete cell death occur ed after 6 days of incubation. Whatever the concentration of b-FGF use d (0.312-2.5 ng/ml), a significant increase (1.2- to 1.4-fold) in neur ite length was observed, with neuronal survival up to 9 days.