Vasoactive intestinal peptide but not galanin promotes survival of neonatal rat sympathetic neurons and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells.

The synthesis of the neuropeptide galanin (GAL) is greatly enhanced after axonal lesion in different neuron populations of the peripheral and central nervous system. In sympathetic ganglia, GAL-immunoreactive nerve fiber baskets have been found surrounding postganglionic neurons after axotomy. Until now, it is unclear if GAL may be involved in neuronal survival or regeneration as suggested for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) that is also upregulated after nerve lesion. We have, therefore, studied the effects of GAL on survival of sympathetic neurons dissociated from newborn rat superior cervical ganglia and on neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. These effects were compared to those elicited by VIP. Whereas VIP promoted survival of about 10% of sympathetic neurons 2 days after nerve growth factor deprivation and induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells already at 6 h after addition of the peptide, GAL had no effect in either of these culture systems. While the induction of VIP may be beneficial for axotomized neurons, the functional significance of increased GAL levels remains to be established.