Oligodendrocyte-type 2 astrocyte-derived trophic factors increase survivalof developing dopamine neurons through the inhibition of apoptotic cell death

Survival of embryonic dopamine CDA) neurons is extremely low (5-20%) follow ing transplantation. Strategies to increase this survival are critical to t he future of transplantation for Parkinson's disease. We demonstrate here t hat a factor(s) released from striatal oligodendrocyte-type 2 astrocytes (S O2A) greatly improves the survival and phenotype expression of mesencephali c DA neurons in culture while simultaneously decreasing the presence of apo ptotic nuclear profiles, as detected by the TUNEL method and bisbenzamide/t yrosine hydroxylase double labeling. This SO2A-derived trophic factor(s) ha s minimal effects on glia and no effect on nondopaminergic mesencephalic ne urons. The developmental period during which this SO2A trophic effect occur s (E14-18) coincides with the period when mesencephalic grafts are undergoi ng the highest rates of apoptosis, i.e., immediately following implantation . Therefore, SO2A-derived trophic factor(s) offers great potential for the augmentation of grafted DA neuron survival. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.