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- Title
Retinoic acid as a chemoattractant for cultured embryonic spinal cord neurons of the African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis.
- Authors
Rand, C.D.; Spencer, G.E.; Carlone, R.L.
- Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, is important for neural development and regeneration and can induce neurite outgrowth. It may also act as a guidance molecule by attracting neurite processes during outgrowth. In the African Clawed Frog ( Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802)), RA has been shown to play an important role in the development of the anterior-posterior axis. However, whether RA can act as a trophic or tropic molecule on embryonic neurons of this species has not been determined. In this study, we investigated the effects of two retinoid isomers, all- trans retinoic acid (atRA) and 9- cis retinoic acid (9- cisRA), on cultured embryonic spinal cord neurons of X. laevis. Both isomers significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth compared with the vehicle control. In addition, atRA induced growth cone turning, which was blocked with a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) antagonist, selective for the β receptor subtype. Immunostaining also revealed RAR immunoreactivity in the neurites and growth cones of these cells. Interestingly, the 9- cisRA isomer also induced significant growth cone turning and this response was inhibited by a retinoid X receptor (RXR) pan-antagonist. Overall, we have provided evidence for both trophic and chemotropic actions of two naturally occurring retinoid isomers on Xenopus embryonic spinal cord neurons in culture.
- Subjects
NEURONS; TRETINOIN; XENOPUS; SPINAL cord; VITAMIN A
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2017, Vol 95, Issue 9, p653
- ISSN
0008-4301
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/cjz-2016-0279