Differential effects of acth-related peptides and forskolin on rat schwann cell proliferation and low affinity NGF receptor expression

Abstract

We investigated the effect of the neurotrophic peptides αMSH and Org 2766 on Schwann cell proliferation (BrdU incorporation) and low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) expression in vitro. Cells were cultured under four conditions: low or high density culture, with forskolin present or absent in the medium during one week before start of the experiment. Schwann cells were treated with αMSH, Org 2766 or forskolin. After 48h forskolin (10 μM) increased BrdU incorporation (32–151%) in all culture conditions and LNGFR production (25–194%) in 3 out of 4 conditions. αMSH and Org 2766 had no effect. This study shows that Schwann cell proliferation and LNGFR expression is under control of cAMP. Furthermore, the neurotrophic effect of αMSH and Org 2766 is probably not mediated through an increased cell division or LNGFR expression in Schwann cells.