Differential growth of goldfish retinal explants on regenerating and non-regenerating optic tract membranes

Regenerating goldfish retinal explants were cultured on poly-L-lysine (control) or poly-L-lysine overlaid with membranes isolated from non-regenerating optic tract (OTr) and 10- or 21-day regenerating OTr. Non-regenerating OTr substrate inhibited all neurite growth while 10- and 21-day regenerating OTr substrates significantly increased the average neurite number per explant and average neurite length compared to controls. These results indicate an upregulation of neurite growth permissive properties of regenerating OTr membranes.