Abstract
Dogs can be used as a translational animal model to close the gap between basic discoveries in rodents and clinical trials in humans. The present study compared the species-specific properties of satellite glial cells (SGCs) of canine and murine dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in situ and in vitro using light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunostainings. The in situ expression of CNPase, GFAP, and glutamine synthetase (GS) has also been investigated in simian SGCs. In situ, most canine SGCs (>80%) expressed the neural progenitor cell markers nestin and Sox2. CNPase and GFAP were found in most canine and simian but not murine SGCs. GS was detected in 94% of simian and 71% of murine SGCs, whereas only 44% of canine SGCs expressed GS. In vitro, most canine (>84%) and murine (>96%) SGCs expressed CNPase, whereas GFAP expression was differentially affected by culture conditions and varied between 10% and 40%. However, GFAP expression was induced by bone morphogenetic protein 4 in SGCs of both species. Interestingly, canine SGCs also stimulated neurite formation of DRG neurons. These findings indicate that SGCs represent an exceptional, intermediate glial cell population with phenotypical characteristics of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes and might possess intrinsic regenerative capabilities in vivo.
Highlights
Since the discovery of glial cells over a century ago, substantial progress has been made in understanding the origin, development, and function of the different types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)[1]
The present study provides the first detailed in situ and in vitro characterization of canine dorsal root ganglia (DRG) satellite glial cells (SGCs)
Most canine SGCs were characterized by a strong co-expression of CNPase and GFAP, which represent classical markers of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, respectively[35]
Summary
Since the discovery of glial cells over a century ago, substantial progress has been made in understanding the origin, development, and function of the different types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)[1]. The dorsal roots of the spinal cord contain sensory ganglia, which are composed of afferent neurons, ensheathing SGCs, and connective tissue cells[29] These dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and SGCs form a unique structural unit[30], representing the basis for their intense bidirectional communication[31]. Similar to astrocytes in the CNS, SGCs control the microenvironment of DRG neurons and functionally substitute the lacking blood-brain barrier in sensory ganglia[29]. They can form perikaryal myelin sheaths and even possess phagocytic activity, which are typical functions of oligodendrocytes and microglia, respectively[32,33,34]. The aims of the present study were to characterize canine SGCs in situ and in vitro, and to compare these results to murine, and as far as available to simian SGCs and to investigate the potential role that SGCs might play in regenerative medicine as possible cell transplantation candidates
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