Vasopressin promotes neurite growth in cultured embryonic neurons.
Vasopressin (AVP) has been identified as a neural peptide which may influence memory function. Because of this action, we investigated the effect of AVP on neurons growing in culture. Vasopressin was found to markedly increase neurite outgrowth from cultured embryonic neurons and to also accelerate the rate of neuritic growth. Maximal stimulation of neurite production occurred after 24-hour incubation in the presence of 1 microM AVP. In AVP-treated cultures the profuse neuritic arborization was characterized by numerous microspikes along the neuritic shafts and at the perimeters of growth cones. These data provide strong evidence for a neurotrophic effect of AVP which, we suggest, may be relevant to neuronal development as well as to morphological changes which occur in the mature nervous system, possibly during memory formation.
Brinton
R E
RE
Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson 85724.
Gruener
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D006133:Growth Substances; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin