title: Taurine effect on neuritic outgrowth from goldfish retinal explants in the absence and presence of fetal calf serum.
abstract: Post-crush goldfish retinal explants were cultured in the absence of fetal calf serum and in the presence of calcium, albumin, glucose or taurine. There was an increase in length and density of the neurites in a dose-dependent manner when fetal calf serum was added to the medium. The addition of calcium to the basic medium, Leibovitz, produced a small increase in neuritic outgrowth at low concentrations, but inhibited outgrowth at higher levels. Albumin did not significantly modify neuritic outgrowth. Glucose, at variable concentrations, produced a bell-shaped increase in length and density of the neurites. Taurine, in the absence of fetal calf serum, produced a small increase in neuritic outgrowth at 10 mM. In the presence of glucose, taurine stimulated outgrowth was less efficient than in the presence of fetal calf serum. In order to investigate the mechanisms of action of taurine as a trophic agent, the culture medium in the absence of fetal calf serum will be supplemented with glucose.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neuroquímica, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo. 21827, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela. llima@cbb.ivic.ve
authors.forename: Lucimey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cubillos
authors.forename: Fili
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazzino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D002417:Cattle; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005947:Glucose; D006054:Goldfish; D016501:Neurites; D012160:Retina
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose