Protection effect of GDNF and neurturin on photosensitized crayfish neurons and glial cells

J Mol Neurosci. 2013 Mar;49(3):480-90. doi: 10.1007/s12031-012-9858-6. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

Neurons and glial cells can protect each other from stress and following death by mutual exchange with neurotrophins. In order to examine involvement of different neurotrophic factors in neuroglial interactions in a photosensitized crayfish stretch receptor, a simple model object consisting of only two sensory neurons enveloped by glial cells, we studied the influence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin, and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on its photodynamic injury. Photodynamic treatment, which causes strong oxidative stress, induced firing abolition and necrosis of neurons, necrosis, and apoptosis of glial cells. GDNF significantly reduced photoinduced neuronal necrosis and neurturin but not CNTF showed a similar tendency. Both of them significantly reduced necrosis and apoptosis of glial cells. At the ultrastructural level, neurons and glial cells treated with GDNF in the darkness contained large mitochondria with well-developed cristae, numerous ribosomes, polysomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and dictyosomes. This indicated the high level of bioenergetic, biosynthetic, and transport processes. Photodynamic treatment caused swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria, dictyosomes, and ER. It also impaired formation of glial protrusions and double membrane vesicles that transfer glial material into the neuron. GDNF prevented photoinduced mitochondria swelling that disturbed the cellular bioenergetics and cytoplasm vacuolization associated with injury of intracellular organelles. It also preserved the structures involved in protein synthesis and transport: rough ER, dictyosomes, polysomes, microtubule bundles, submembrane cisterns, and double membrane vesicles. GDNF-mediated maintenance of metabolism and ultrastructure of photosensitized neurons and glial cells may be the basis of its neuro- and glia protective effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Astacoidea
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Indoles / toxicity
  • Lasers
  • Mechanoreceptors / drug effects*
  • Mechanoreceptors / radiation effects
  • Mechanoreceptors / ultrastructure
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Neuroglia / drug effects*
  • Neuroglia / radiation effects
  • Neuroglia / ultrastructure
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / radiation effects
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Neurturin / pharmacology*
  • Organometallic Compounds / toxicity
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Photochemotherapy / adverse effects
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / toxicity
  • Radiation-Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
  • GDNF protein, human
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Indoles
  • NRTN protein, human
  • Neurturin
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Radiation-Protective Agents
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine