Labelling of schwann and satellite cells by [ 3H]dexamethasone in a rat sympathetic ganglion and sciatic nerve

Abstract

Light-microscopic autoradiograms of superior cervical ganglia of adult rats after injection of [ 3H]dexamethasone showed a preferential accumulation of radioactivity in the nuclei of satellite and Schwann cells. The total radioactivity found in the ganglion at 10 min after injection was high compared to the cerebral cortex of the brain, but declined rapidly. Only Schwann and satellite cell nuclei retained the label for up to 2 h. The labelling was specific for dexamethasone, since it could be prevented by an excess of unlabelled dexamethasone but not by corticosterone. Administration of [ 3H]corticosterone resulted in only a weak labelling of the ganglion and no specific labelling of Schwann and satellite cells could be observed. As in the ganglion, accumulations of [ 3H]dexamethasone by Schwann cell nuclei was also observed in the sciatic nerve. It is possible, therefore, that satellite and Schwann cells represent an important target for glucocorticoids in the nervous system.