Maffei L, Carmignoto G, Perry V H, Candeo P, Ferrari G
Istituto di Neurofisiologia del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Mar;87(5):1855-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.5.1855.
Schwann cells (SCs) are known to play an important role for the regeneration of mammalian peripheral nerves. Their effect is likely due to the production of neuronotrophic and/or supportive factors. Here we study the effect of intraocular transplant of SCs on the survival of rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after the intracranial section of the optic nerve. SCs were injected intraocularly in adult hooded rats. Surviving RGCs were retrogradely labeled with horseradish peroxidase applied to the proximal stump of the optic nerve. Results show that intraocular transplants of SCs promote the survival of a large number of RGCs for periods as long as 9 and 14 weeks after optic nerve section. In experimental retinae, surviving RGCs were 2- to 8-fold more numerous than in controls. This finding suggests that SCs are the source of factors that promote the survival of RGCs. Nerve growth factor is produced by SCs, and the intraocular injection of nerve growth factor has been previously shown to promote RGC survival. The rescuing effect of SCs on RGCs is greater than that obtained by intraocular injection of nerve growth factor. This greater effect may be due to the action of other neurotrophic factors produced by SCs or by transplanted SCs producing NGF in a sustained fashion.
已知施万细胞（SCs）在哺乳动物外周神经再生中发挥重要作用。它们的作用可能归因于神经营养因子和/或支持因子的产生。在此，我们研究了在视神经颅内段切断后，将施万细胞眼内移植对大鼠视网膜神经节细胞（RGCs）存活的影响。将施万细胞注射到成年带帽大鼠的眼内。通过将辣根过氧化物酶应用于视神经近端残端，对存活的视网膜神经节细胞进行逆行标记。结果表明，在视神经切断后长达9周和14周的时间里，施万细胞的眼内移植可促进大量视网膜神经节细胞的存活。在实验视网膜中，存活的视网膜神经节细胞数量比对照组多2至8倍。这一发现表明，施万细胞是促进视网膜神经节细胞存活的因子来源。施万细胞可产生神经生长因子，先前已表明眼内注射神经生长因子可促进视网膜神经节细胞的存活。施万细胞对视网膜神经节细胞的挽救作用大于眼内注射神经生长因子所获得的效果。这种更大的作用可能是由于施万细胞产生的其他神经营养因子的作用，或者是由于移植的施万细胞持续产生神经生长因子。
