BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and polysialic acid (PSA) function basically in cell adhesion and migration. In neural development, they are closely associated with axon pathfinding, synaptogenesis, neural cell migration, differentiation and myelination. The purpose of this study is to assess expression of NCAM and PSA expression in spiral ganglion neurons and Schwann cells and to postulate their functions. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Guinea pig spiral ganglion cells were harvested and cultured in vitro. The cells were grown and differentiated in culture medium together with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) and glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). After 1 week of culturing, the cells were fixed and immunocytochemical staining with beta-III tubulin, S-100, polysialic acid (PSA) and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) were performed. We then checked axon growth rate with Axon Analyzer System(R). RESULTS: In the spiral ganglion culture, cultured neurons showed positive staining for beta-III tubulin, NCAM, and different expressions of PSA. S-100 positive glial cells (Schwann cells) showed different expressions of NCAM and no expression of PSA. Some NCAM positive neurons and Schwann cells were in contact each other. The growth rate of neuron was about 10-30 micrometer/h using Axon Analyzer System(R). CONCLUSION: We postulated that NCAM may play an important role in neural cell adhesion, myelination, fasciculation and ganglion formation. But PSA did not express the adhesive function of NCAM ; its absence may have been due to developmental reason. The differential expression of NCAM in the Schwann cells may indicate its different immunocytochemical characteristics and functions as shown in the CNS glial cells, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Axons ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Fasciculation ; Ganglion Cysts ; Guinea Pigs ; Myelin Sheath ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules* ; Neuroglia ; Neurons* ; Neurotrophin 3 ; Oligodendroglia ; Schwann Cells ; Spiral Ganglion* ; Tubulin

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Endolymphatic Sac ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Otolithic Membrane ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed