F. Monnettschudi et al., GLIAL HYALURONATE-BINDING PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN AGGREGATING BRAIN-CELL CULTURES, Developmental neuroscience, 15(6), 1993, pp. 395-402
We analyzed the expression of glial hyaluronate-binding protein (GHAP)
, an integral component of the extracellular matrix, in aggregating br
ain cell cultures of fetal rat telencephalon using immunofluorescence.
GHAP immunoreactivity appeared after 1 week in culture, simultaneous
with the first deposits of myelin basic protein, and showed a developm
ent-dependent increase. Comparison of glia-enriched and neuron-enriche
d cultures showed that only glial cells express GHAP. Three peptide gr
owth factors, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and pl
atelet-derived growth factor, which are known to stimulate the differe
ntiation of glial cells, modulated the deposit of GHAP immunoreactivit
y. The 3-dimensional structure of aggregate cultures promoted GHAP dep
osition, suggesting that cell-cell interactions are required for extra
cellular matrix formation. Furthermore GHAP production seemed to depen
d on the developmental stage of the glial cells.