Schwann cell: a source of neurotrophic activity on cortical glutamatergic neurons in culture.

Glial cells secrete numerous soluble molecules that enhance the development and
the survival of different neuronal types cultured in vitro. Schwann cells (SC)
play an important role as they are the source of different trophic substances
and present a great neurotrophic activity. The aim of this study is to
investigate the influence of postnatal SC on embryonic glutamatergic neurons.
Co-cultures of SC from sciatic nerve of postnatal rats and neurons from rat
embryonic cerebral cortex were successfully established, and cells were
immunocytochemically characterized using mono and polyclonal antibodies as
different glial and neuronal markers. Furthermore, some neuronal cultures were
added with Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) to
compare to co-cultures. Our results show that SC promote an increase in the
number of glutamatergic cortical neurons; moreover, these neurons present an
evidence of dense axonal and dendritic outgrowth even when were fed with
conditioned medium obtained from SC cultures. In conclusion, our data suggest
that substances produced by SC exert a positive effect on central neuron
survival and differentiation as indicated by processes of elongation and that
this activity is mediated by soluble factors. Therefore, it is possible to
consider the SC as a source of growth factors and might be suitable for the
development of a neuroprotective effect in neurodegenerative disorders.