High K+-mediated survival of spinal sensory neurons depends on developmental stage

Elevated concentrations of K+ (35 mM) have previously been shown to support the survival of most embryonic chick sympathetic neurons in vitro (Wakade et al., Exp cell res 144 (1983) 377, [23]) and to be interchangeable with nerve growth factor (NGF) as a survival-promoting agent for these cells (Wakade & Thoenen, Neurosci lett 45 (1984) 71 [21]). In the present study, we show that dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from embryonic day 6 do not survive in the presence of high K+, although both NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) each support the survival of more than 50% of the cells at this developmental stage. At E6, high K+ appears to have a cytotoxic effect on BDNF-dependent neurons, and there is also considerable inhibition of neurite outgrowth. At a later developmental stage (E12), high K+ supports the survival of about 40% of DRG cells. This subpopulation of neurons is distinct from that supported by NGF (as evidenced by the additivity of these two agents), but partially overlaps with that supported by BDNF (i.e., the two agents are less than additive). At E12, only approx. 20% of the cells can be supported by either NGF or BDNF, with the rest depending exclusively on one or the other of these factors. This is in contrast to the situation at E6, where there is considerable overlap between NGF- and BDNF-dependent populations.