Effects of medium flow on axon growth with or without nerve growth factor

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2015-09, Vol.465 (1), p.26-29
• Main Authors: Kumamoto, Junichi, Kitahata, Hiroyuki, Goto, Makiko, Nagayama, Masaharu, Denda, Mitsuhiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Axons - drug effects; Axons - ultrastructure; Biomechanical Phenomena; Diffusion; Diffusion Chambers, Culture; Dorsal-root-ganglion; Ganglia, Spinal - cytology; Ganglia, Spinal - drug effects; Ganglia, Spinal - growth & development; Nerve fiber; Nerve Growth Factor - metabolism; Nerve Growth Factor - pharmacology; Neuron; Primary Cell Culture; Rats; Rheology - instrumentation; Rheology - methods; Sensory Receptor Cells - cytology; Sensory Receptor Cells - drug effects
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.07.104

Axon growth is a crucial process in regeneration of damaged nerves. On the other hand, elongation of nerve fibers in the epidermis has been observed in skin of atopic dermatitis patients. Thus, regulation of nerve fiber extension might be an effective strategy to accelerate nerve regeneration and/or to reduce itching in pruritus dermatosis. We previously demonstrated that neurons and epidermal keratinocytes similarly contain multiple receptors that are activated by various environmental factors, and in particular, keratinocytes are influenced by shear stress. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of micro-flow of the medium on axon growth in the presence or absence of nerve growth factor (NGF), using cultured dorsal-root-ganglion (DRG) cells. The apparatus, AXIS™, consists of two chambers connected by a set of microgrooves, through which signaling molecules and axons, but not living cells, can pass. When DRG cells were present in chamber 1, NGF was present in chamber 2, and micro-flow was directed from chamber 1 to chamber 2, axon growth was significantly increased compared with other conditions. Acceleration of axon growth in the direction of the micro-flow was also observed in the absence of NGF. These results suggest that local micro-flow might significantly influence axon growth. •Local micro-flow around the tips of axon significantly influenced the axon growth.•The effect of micro-flow on axon growth might be much greater than that of NGF.•A device to induce micro-flow might be effective to enhance nerve regeneration.