Figure 9
The effects of BDNF are specific to TrkB expressing cells. Cells from dispersed St 29/30 (E6.5) lumbar sympathetic ganglia were cultured in control medium or medium supplemented with 200 ng/ml BDNF together with 1:1000 rabbit anti-TrkB extracellular domain (dark bars), 1:1000 non-immune rabbit serum (white bars) or no addition (hatched bars). All cultures were pulsed for 12 hrs with BrdU, and then harvested 24 hrs after plating, fixed, and stained with anti-BrdU, anti-TrkB, and Hoechst dye. (A) BDNF induces a significant increase in the number of TrkB+, BrdU+ cells that are blocked by the antiserum against TrkB, but not by the non-immune rabbit serum. (B) In contrast, there is no increase in the number of TrkB-cells, and the antisera have no effect additional effects. The values in both (A) and (B) represent the mean ± SEM of 6 cover slips from two independent platings.