Axonal outgrowth and neuronal apoptosis in cultured adult mouse dorsal root ganglion preparations : Effects of neurotrophins, of inhibition of neurotrophin actions and of prior axotomy
Dorsal root ganglia (L4 and L5) with attached spinal roots and nerve stumps were isolated from young adult mice and cultured in a layer of extracellular matrix material (matrigel). Within one day, a large number of axons grew out from the cut ends of the nerve and the dorsal root. The average outgrowth length was more than doubled by nerve growth factor, which also strongly increased the number of