Developmental regulation of a neurite-promoting factor influencing statoacoustic neurons

The present study investigated a target-derived, neurite-promoting factor (NPF) released by the developing chick otocyst and its effects on statoacoustic ganglia (SAG). SAG explants cultured in the absence of otocysts produced little neurite outgrowth at all stages of development examined (E4-E13). However, extensive neurite outgrowth was seen when E4-E6 SAG were cultured in the presence of otocysts of the same age. The amount of neurite outgrowth observed in cocultures steadily decreased at later developmental stages. E7-E9 cocultures produced less outgrowth and E10-E13 cocultures produced the least outgrowth compared to E4-E6 cocultures. Additionally, otocysts from older stages were unable to promote outgrowth of E4 SAG. Thus, the level of the factor released by the otocysts declined during development. In contrast, neurite outgrowth was promoted when E10-E15 SAG were cocultured in the presence of younger stage otocysts. Our data indicate that the release of NPF from chick otocysts decreased from E6 to E13, although the ability of SAG neurons to respond to the NPF was maintained throughout development.