ISSN:
0021-9541
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
The effect of potassium (K+) on the time course of neuron survival has been investigated by counting neurons over a 24-day period in live cultures of dissociated dorsal root ganglia from embryonic chick, fetal and newborn mouse, and fetal human material. In both normal K (6 mM) and in elevated K (20 mM mouse and human, 40 mM chick) there was initially a rapid exponential decrease in neuron survival. However, the magnitude of this decrease was less in the elevated K. In normal K neuron number decreased monotonically; the rate of degeneration itself decreased with time so that after 24 days neuron survival became relatively constant. In contrast, in elevated K the neuron number actually increased over a limited time interval before attaining a stable long-term value much greater than that in normal K. Thus, elevated K enhanced long-term survival by causing a lower rate of degeneration and also by causing an increase in neuron number during a limited period of the time in culture. From these observations and other evidence, it is argued that K can substitute to some extent for the trophic action normally exerted by the peripheral field of innervation of the DRG. It is further argued that K acts through its depolarizing effect on the membrane potential and that modification of intracellular ionic concentrations seems less likely to be involved.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcp.1040910215
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