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Alpha-crystallin promotes rat retinal neurite growth on myelin substrates in vitro
Yan Hua Wang1, Dong Wu Wang, Nan Wu
1Southwest Hospital, Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
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.
Objectives:
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.
