Role of Opioid Peptides and Substance P in the Regeneration of CNS and PNS Nervous Tissue

Abstract

Cultures of PNS, CNS, and glioma C₆ are very convenient models for testing the biologial activity of factors in neural regeneration. According to our studies opioid peptides (OP) [endogenous, but also synthetic analogues (substance P, SP)] change not only the intensity of neurite outgrowth, but also survival and adhesion properties of PNS and CNS neurons. This type of peptide activity was measured in dissociated culture of rat spinal cord by aggregation assay. It was found that the aggregation during peptide action was increased on average 1.6- to 1.7-fold compared to controls, thus altering cell adhesion and increasing survival of neurons and glial cells. We obtained data on increased survival of PNS neurons CNS in culture many years ago. OP and SP change ot only survival, neurite outgrowth and neuron adhesion, but also the properties of PNS and CNS glial cells. The rate of migration of Schwann cells and spinal cord astrocytes increased under the effect of OP and SP, altering their adhesion and survival. It was shown on glioma C₆ cells that proliferation activity, DNA synthesis, and degree of differentiation (GS, CNP, GPDH activity) altered with OP and SP action; GPDH activity of Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes increased; the number of cells labeled with the astrocyte marker (GFAP) increased in the presence of OP in the growth medium.