Embryonic sympathoblasts transiently express TrkB in vivo and proliferate in response to brain-derived neurotrophic factor in vitro

Table 2 Effects of BDNF on BrdU Incorporation in TrkB-Expressing Cells from St. 29/30 (E6.5) Sympathetic Cultures

Cultures of St 29/30 (E6.5) lumbar sympathetic ganglia were exposed to 10 μM BrdU for 12 hrs, followed by complete medium lacking BrdU. Twenty-four hrs after plating, cells were fixed and stained for TrkB and BrdU using double immunofluorescence. All nuclei were also stained with Hoechst dye. The total number of BrdU+, TrkB+ and BrdU+, TrkB-cells was scored by counting 10 fields of view using epifluorescence optics. In experiments 1 and 2 respectively, 76% and 71% of the TrkB+ cells incorporate BrdU in response to BDNF. Each experiment represents the mean +/- SEM of 3 cover slips from two independent platings.

ISSN: 1471-213X