Plasticity of astrocytes derived from aged mouse cerebral hemispheres: changes with cell passage and immortalization

Brain Research Bulletin
J GroveA Vernadakis

Abstract

This study was targeted at the beginning to understand the functional status of glial cells derived from aged brain. We have previously characterized passaged cell cultures derived from aged mouse cerebral hemispheres (MACH) and found them to contain large populations of astrocytes, type 1, as well as limited numbers of astrocytes, type 2, oligodendrocytes, and progenitor cells. Using the activity of the astrocyte marker, glutamine synthetase (GS), as an index, we found that MACH astrocytes continue to respond to several microenvironmental signals, including the cAMP-enhancing agents dibutyryl cAMP and R020-1724 (an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase). In addition, whereas the basal activity of GS increased with cell passage, their response to these agents was cell-passage dependent, increasing at early (21-22) passages and decreasing at later (46-51) passages. Because neurotrophins (i.e., NGF and EGF) also provide microenvironmental signals essential to normal glial function, MACH cultures were assessed for their response to these factors. MACH cultures at passage 35 responded to treatment with NGF and EGF with a dose-dependent increase in GS activity by both neurotrophins. With the intention of arresting these cultures at a speci...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 25, 1998·In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Animal·O MbarekT Hevor
Jul 1, 1996·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·E Fleischer-LambropoulosA Vernadakis
Jun 28, 2000·Progress in Neurobiology·M P Junier
Nov 16, 2004·Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology·F Ozbas-GerçekerE Aronica
Jan 3, 2001·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·A L Barker-GibbT A Milner

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