Postnatal proliferation of DRG non-neuronal cells in vitamin E-deficient rats

Changes in the number of satellite cells in neuron body sheaths in dorsal r oot ganglia (DRGs) were studied from 1 to 5 months of age in control and in vitamin E-deficient rats; furthermore, the satellite cell proliferation ra te was detected in the same groups of animals with immunohistochemistry for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The number of satellite cells in sheaths of DRG neurons increased in the pe riod of life considered both in control and in vitamin E-deficient rats. Sa tellite cell proliferation was observed in both groups, but its rate was fo und to be higher in vitamin E-deficient rats. The results obtained in control rats confirm that mitotic ability is retain ed by satellite cells in adulthood and show that at least some of newborn s atellite cells add to the pre-existing population. The results obtained in vitamin E-deficient rats suggest that a faster turn over in satellite cell population takes place in these animals and support the idea that vitamin E could be an exogenous factor controlling cell proli feration. Anat Rec 256:109-115, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.