Neurotransmitter phenotype plasticity in cultured dissociated adult rat dorsal root ganglia: An immunocytochemical study (original) (raw)

1989, Journal of Neuroscience Research

Culturing sympathetic ganglion neurons in vitro may modify phenotypic expression of some neurotransmitters. For dorsal root ganglia (DRG), contradictory results have been reported; most studies have used immature material. We have therefore performed a detailed immunocytochemical analysis of the transmitter content of cultured adult rat DRG neurons. To demonstrate possible modifications of neurotransmitter phenotypes, we have compared the results obtained with the same techniques on neurons cultured for 3 days and on freshly dissociated DRG cells. Also, the transmitter profile of cultured neurons was compared with that known from in situ studies. Out of 22 antigens studied, 20 were detected in cultured DRG neurons. All of them were expressed in small and/or intermediate-sized cells. Large neurons only contained CGRP, VIP, NPY, P-END, ENK, and GABA. The percentage of immunostained neurons varied for the various antisera: < 10% of cultured neurons were positive for ENK,

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