Abstract: To explore the effects of glial cell linederived neurotrophic growth factor (GDNF) on substance P (SP) released from cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. MethodsDRG neurons of Wistar rat embryos were cultured without or with GDNF (5ng/mL, 50ng/mL) for 72h. The living cells were observed by an inverted contrast microscope. The neurons stained by microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2) and 4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescent were counted. The amount of SP basal release and of SP evoked by capsaicin was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). ResultsThe living status of DRG cells with GDNF incubation was better than that without GDNF incubation. The number of DRG neurons per visual field increased in GDNF treated cultures compared with that in cultures without GDNF. Both the amount of SP basal release and the amount of SP evoked by capsaicin significantly increased in GDNF treated cultures compared with those in cultures without GDNF. ConclusionGDNF may improve survival of cultured DRG neurons and promote SP basal release and sensitize the capsaicin evoked SP release from DRG neurons.

Key words: Nerve growth factors, Ganglia, Neurons, Substance P, Rats, Wistar