[The effect of N and C terminal sequences of substance P on non-neuronal cells in vitro (nerve tissue culture)].

The effect of peptides (SP1-2, SP3-4 and SP5-11) of substance P (SP1-11) on the morphology of the areas of growth of explants of the ganglion trigeminale from chick embryos after incubation in Maximow chambers was observed. N- and C-terminal sequences effected the growth of cultures differently. In dipeptide-treated (= N-terminal sequences) cultures the areas of growth increased. In heptapeptide-treated cultures (= C-terminal sequence SP5-11) the areas of growth decreased. Only the dipeptide SP3-4 effects a mitogenic effect on nonneuronal cells in short time tests. The C-terminal sequence SP5-11 stimulates neither the growth of nerve fibres nor the proliferation of cells. Finally the importance of this in-vitro-tests in relation to the in-vivo-situation is discussed.