Alpha-crystallin promotes rat retinal neurite growth on myelin substrates in vitro.
BACKGROUND
Myelin-associated molecules are major impediments to axon regeneration after optic nerve injury. Intravitreal injection of α-crystallin can protect axons from optic nerve degeneration after crushing in rats.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate whether α-crystallin could counteract the inhibitory effect of myelin and promote neurite growth.


METHODS
Newborn rat retinal neurons were cultured on myelin-coated dishes with DMEM containing α-crystallin (10(-4) g/l) or bovine serum albumin. The density of neurons with neurites and the length of the longest neurite of the cells were analyzed on days 1, 3 and 5.


RESULTS
Cultures containing α-crystallin had significantly higher neurite-containing cell densities, and the neurites were significantly longer compared with cultures containing bovine serum albumin. These findings indicated that α-crystallin could counteract the effect of myelin inhibitory factors and stimulate neurite growth.
Wang
Yan Hua
YH
Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
Wang
Dong Wu
DW
Wu
Nan
N
Wang
Yi
Y
Yin
Zheng Qin
ZQ
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology*; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D055351:Retinal Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D038201:alpha-Crystallins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; C000603197:Rtn4 protein, rat; D038201:alpha-Crystallins