Abstract
Rat chromaffin cells display phenotypic plasticity postnatally. In the presence of glucocorticoids, they retain a chromaffin cell phenotype, whilst in the presence of nerve growth factor and the absence of glucocorticoids they adopt a sympathetic neuronal phenotype. The tachykinins have some of the characteristics of a neurotrophic factor and are present in the form of a substance P afferent input in the rat adrenal medulla. We investigated the effects of stable NK1 and NK2 tachykinin receptor agonists, Ava[L-Pro,N-Me-Leu-10]SP7-11 (GR73632) and [Lys-3,Gly-8,R-Lac-Leu-9]NKA3-10 (GR64349), respectively, on the survival and phenotype of P5-7 rat chromaffin cells in vitro. GR73632 promoted neurite outgrowth, characteristic of the sympathetic neuronal phenotype, in the absence of NGF and glucocorticoids, but was without effect on survival after 2 weeks in culture. GR64349 was without effect.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adrenal Glands / cytology
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Adrenal Glands / drug effects
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Animals
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Survival / drug effects
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Chromaffin System / cytology*
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Chromaffin System / drug effects
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique
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Hexamethonium Compounds / pharmacology
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Immunohistochemistry
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In Vitro Techniques
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Nerve Growth Factors / pharmacology
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Neurites / drug effects
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Neurokinin A / analogs & derivatives
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Neurokinin A / pharmacology
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Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
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Phenotype
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred Strains
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Receptors, Neurotransmitter / drug effects
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Receptors, Neurotransmitter / physiology*
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Receptors, Tachykinin
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Substance P / analogs & derivatives
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Substance P / pharmacology
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Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism
Substances
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Hexamethonium Compounds
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Peptide Fragments
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Receptors, Neurotransmitter
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Receptors, Tachykinin
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GR 73632
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neurokinin A (3-10), lysyl(3)-glycyl(8)-R-lactam-leucine(9)-
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Substance P
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Neurokinin A
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Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase