Supplementary Material for: Effects of Neurotrophic Factors on Growth and Glial Cell Alignment of Cultured Adult Spiral Ganglion Cells

Adult spiral ganglion cells were cultured in chorus to assess the influence of the neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin 3 and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on neurite growth and Schwann cell alignment. Over 1500 measurements were collected using each factor at 10 ng/ml and all three in combination. Evaluation was made with GDNF at concentrations of up to 100 ng/ml. Neurite dimensions were assessed at days 5, 7, 9 and 11 using a computer-based program (Axon Analyzer). GDNF had a strong effect on spiral ganglion cell growth almost attaining the level of all three factors in combination. GDNF increased glial cell alignment and nerve bundle formation. Results show the potential of GDNF to maintain and possibly restore auditory nerve integrity.为探究脑源性神经营养因子（brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF）、神经营养因子3（neurotrophin 3, NT-3）及胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, GDNF）对成年螺旋神经节细胞的神经突起生长与施万细胞（Schwann cell）排列的影响，本研究将成年螺旋神经节细胞进行群体培养。针对10 ng/ml浓度下的单种神经营养因子及三种因子联合给药的实验组，共收集了超过1500组测量数据；同时针对最高浓度达100 ng/ml的GDNF开展了浓度梯度评估。研究人员于培养第5、7、9和11天，通过计算机辅助分析软件（Axon Analyzer）对神经突起的各项形态参数进行了量化检测。结果显示，GDNF对螺旋神经节细胞的生长具有显著促进作用，其效果几乎可与三种因子联合使用时的水平相当；此外GDNF可增强施万细胞的定向排列，并促进神经束的形成。本研究结果表明，GDNF在维持乃至修复听神经完整性方面具备潜在应用价值。