GDNF IMPROVES SURVIVAL AND REDUCES APOPTOSIS IN HUMAN EMBRYONIC DOPAMINERGIC-NEURONS IN-VITRO

Dopamine cell death is the primary problem limiting the value of neuro transplantation in human patients with Parkinson's disease. To address this problem, we added glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (G DNF) to cultures of embryonic dopaminergic neurons obtained from human and from Bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) in an effort to reduce apopto tic cell death and improve overall cell survival. Tissue from three hu man embryos, 7-8 weeks post-conception, and one 9-week post-conception monkey embryo were dissociated and cultured in F-12 media with 5% hum an placental serum. GDNF (10 ng/ml) in human cultures nearly doubled d opamine neuron survival and reduced the rate of apoptosis from 6% to 3 %. In monkey cultures, GDNF also enhanced dopamine neuron survival and reduced the apoptotic rate. We conclude that GDNF improves the surviv al of primate embryonic dopamine neurons in culture by reducing apopto sis.