H. Hiruma et al., Effects of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide on axonal transport in isolated and cultured adult mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons, BRAIN RES, 883(2), 2000, pp. 184-191
Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from primar
y sensory neurons are known to play important roles in nociception and noci
ceptive transmission. In the present study, we attempted to clarify the rol
es of these neuropeptides in the regulation of axonal transport in sensory
neurons. Cells were isolated from adult mouse dorsal root ganglia and cultu
red in F-12 medium containing fetal bovine serum for 48 h until their neuri
tes were grown. These isolated and cultured DRG cells were mostly (>98%) sm
all (diameter <25 <mu>m) and medium (diameter, 25-40 mum) in size, and were
immunoreactive for substance P and CGRP (85.9 and 66.0% of total cells, re
spectively). Video-enhanced microscopy was applied to observe particles tra
nsported within neurites. Application of substance P (100 nM) decreased the
number of particles transported in both anterograde and retrograde directi
ons in each of DRG neurons tested (n=5). The instantaneous velocities of in
dividual particles transported in anterograde and retrograde directions wer
e also reduced by substance P. In contrast, alpha -CGRP (100 nM) increased
the number of particles transported in both directions in each of DRG neuro
ns tested (n=5), and also increased the instantaneous velocities of particl
es transported bidirectionally. Application of beta -CGRP (100-1000 nM) did
not elicit any effect on axonal transport. Therefore, axonal transport in
sensory neurons seems to be modulated by substance P and alpha -CGRP, both
of which can be derived from its own and adjacent sensory neurons. (C) 2000
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