Pretreatment with Interleukin-1 Enhances Survival of Sympathetic Ganglionic Neuron Grafts

Abstract

The effects of pretreatment with interleukin-1 (IL-1) on neurite growth and cell survival of rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) explants were examined. Neonate rat SCG explants were cultured with serumcontaining growth media. Pretreatment with IL-1β (30 U/ml) for 3 hours stimulated neurite outgrowth of the SCG explant, which was inhibited by the addition of anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) antibody to the growth medium. Adult rat autologous SCG with the same pretreatment and nontreated ganglia were transplanted into the lateral ventricle. Histological evaluation of the grafts 2 weeks after transplantation revealed that the pretreated SCG cells survived better. Pretreatment with IL-1 may achieve the NGF-mediated neurotrophic effect in sympathetic ganglionic neurons resulting in enhanced graft survival.