Synthesis on accumulation of putative neurotransmitters by cultured neural crest cells

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · J. Neurosci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6706256

Maxwell, G D; Sietz, P D; Rafford, C E

The events mediating the differentiation of embryonic neural crest cells into several types of neurons are incompletely understood. In order to probe one aspect of this differentiation, we have examined the capacity of cultured quail trunk neural crest cells to synthesize, from radioactive precursors, and store several putative neurotransmitter compounds. These neural crest cultures develop the capacity to synthesize and accumulate acetylcholine and the catecholamines norepinephrine and dopamine. In contrast, detectable but relatively little synthesis and accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine gamma-aminobutyric acid, or octopamine from the appropriate radiolabeled precursors were observed. The capacity for synthesis and accumulation of radiolabeled acetylcholine and catecholamines is very low or absent at 2 days in vitro. Between 3 and 7 days in vitro, there is a marked rise in both catecholamine and acetylcholine accumulation in the cultures. These findings suggest that, under the particular conditions used in these experiments, the development of neurotransmitter biosynthesis in trunk neural crest cells ijs restricted and resembles, at least partially, the pattern observed in vivo. The development of this capacity to synthesize and store radiolabeled acetylcholine and catecholamines from the appropriate radioactive precursors coincides closely with the development of the activities of the synthetic enzymes choline acetyltransferase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase reported by others.

• Research Organization: Department of Anatomy, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
• OSTI ID: 6706256
• Journal Information: J. Neurosci.; (United States), Vol. 2:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETYLCHOLINE
BIOSYNTHESIS
DOPAMINE
NERVE CELLS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
NORADRENALINE
RADIOISOTOPES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
EMBRYONIC CELLS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
PRECURSOR
ADRENAL HORMONES
AMINES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANIMAL CELLS
AROMATICS
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
CARDIOTONICS
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
DRUGS
ESTERS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
NEUROREGULATORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASYMPATHOMIMETICS
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
QUATERNARY COMPOUNDS
SOMATIC CELLS
STEROID HORMONES
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
SYNTHESIS
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques