Abstract
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is abundantly expressed in Schwann cells in adult mammalian peripheral nerves, but not in neurons. After periheral nerve injury, CNTF released from disrupted Schwann cells is likely to promote neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. In contrast to expression restricted to Schwann cells in vivo, we observed abundant CNTF mRNA and protein expression in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in dissociated cell culture. At later stages (5 and 7 days) of culture, CNTF immunoreactivity was detected in both neuronal cell bodies and growing neurites. These results suggest that CNTF is synthesized and transported to neurites in cultured DRG neurons. Since we failed to observe CNTF expression in DRG neurons in contact with satellite Schwann cells or in explant culture, disruption of neuron-Schwann cell interactions, rather than effects of the culture itself, may be responsible for production of CNTF in the neurons. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S142]
