Delayed treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) reverses ECMA-induced cholinergic lesions in rat brain reaggregate cultures

Mast cells in neuroimmune function: neurotoxicological and neuropharmacological perspectives

Mast cells are located in close proximity to neurons in the peripheral and central nervous systems, suggesting a functional role in normal and aberrant neurodegenerative states. They also possess many of the features of neurons, in terms of monoaminergic systems, responsiveness to neurotrophins and neuropeptides and the ability to synthesise and release bioactive neurotrophic factors. Mast cells are able to secrete an array of potent mediators which may orchestrate neuroinflammation and affect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. The 'cross-talk' between mast cells, lymphocytes, neurons and glia constitutes a neuroimmune axis which is implicated in a range of neurodegenerative diseases with an inflammatory and/or autoimmune component, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Mast cells appear to make an important contribution to developing, mature and degenerating nervous systems and this should now be recognised when assessing the neurotoxic potential of xenobiotics.

Human placental mast cells as an in vitro model system in aspects of neuro-immunotoxicity testing

1. In both the developing and adult nervous systems, nerve growth factor (NGF) influences neuronal survival, differentiation and recovery following insult. 2. The effect of NGF upon human placental mast cells (HPMC) was investigated, since it is known that rodent mast cells express a functional receptor for NGF and secrete histamine upon challenge with this neurotrophic factor. Furthermore, human placental tissue contains a significant amount of NGF and expresses a NGF receptor. 3. HPMC were shown to secrete histamine in a concentration dependent manner in response to NGF (0.001-10.0 micrograms ml-1) in the presence of the lipid cofactor phosphatidylserine (10.0 micrograms ml-1). 4. NGF induced histamine release from isolated HPMC with an EC50 of 0.1 microgram ml-1 NGF and maximal secretion of total cellular histamine of 22.3 +/- 3.4% at 3.0 micrograms ml-1. 5. The response was shown to be a secretory process, dependent upon the presence of exogenous calcium ions and to be pH- and temperature-sensitive. 6. HPMC are suggested to be a suitable primary cell model for use in aspects of in vitro toxicity testing, in terms of assessing the neuro-immunotoxic potential of neurotrophic therapeutics. In addition, mechanistic studies concerning those xenobiotics which may exert their neurotoxic effect via interaction with neurotrophic factors and, or their receptors, may be studied in this human cell model.

An aggregate brain cell culture model for studying neuronal degeneration and regeneration

Rotation-mediated aggregating cell cultures from fetal rat telencephalons containing glial and neuronal cells mature in a fashion comparable to that known to occur in brain in vivo. Large aggregates of 300-500 microM diameters can now reproducibly be cultivated and maintained for more than 40 days in a well defined serum free medium. Validity of the use of such cultures for in vitro studies of various physiological, pharmacological and toxicological phenomenon has already been demonstrated. In this communication some observations suggesting the usefulness of such cultures for pharmacological studies clarifying the possible effects of drugs and other agents on excitatory amino acid induced pathological processes will be presented. The advantages and limitations of the use of aggregated brain cell culture based models for the development of agents potentially useful for the treatment of aging and dementia will also be discussed.