Combined effect of various neurotrophic factors upon dissociated rat myenteric plexus in vitro

Expression of a series of neurotrophic factors in the gut wall during prenatal development allows the enteric nervous system (ENS) to be properly established. After birth the maintenance and plasticity of the various parts of the ENS also needs an appropriate microenvironment. So far, the knowledge of neurotrophic influences upon postnatal development is limited. In this study dissociated myenteric plexus from newborn rats of various postnatal stages were grown in a chemically defined serum free medium (DM). The medium was supplemented with GDNF (Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor), bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) and BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor) either alone or in combination at a concentration of 10 ng/ml. Neuronal numbers and average neurite outgrowth were measured to compare the survival and the neuritogenic effects of the neurotrophins. Depending on age and factor alone or in combination, the enteric neurons showed a different neurite outgrowth and branching pattern. Generally, the effects of the neurotrophins decreased with increasing age.