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Neurite outgrowth-regulating properties of GABA and the effect of serum on mouse spinal cord neurons in culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1998

MARGARET BIRD  and
ALUN OWEN
MARGARET BIRD
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, St Bartholomew's and Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, UK
ALUN OWEN
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, St Bartholomew's and Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, UK Current address: Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Centre, Pharmacology Group, Biomedical Sciences Division, Kings College, Manresa Road, London, SW3 6LX, UK.
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Abstract

Time-lapse photography was used to examine the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the outgrowth and motility of neurites in cultures from mouse spinal cord. GABA at concentrations of 100, 10 and 1 μm caused significant inhibition of neurite outgrowth and the motility of growth cones was significantly reduced by treatment with 100 and 10 μm GABA. This effect was mimicked by the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen, whereas the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol had no effect. The effect of GABA on outgrowth and motility seems to be dependent on the type of serum employed. The results reported here were obtained only when heat-inactivated serum was used and not when non heat-inactivated serum was added to the culture medium. They suggest that GABA has a role in the regulation of process outgrowth within the embryonic mouse spinal cord.

Keywords

Neurotrophismgrowth cones
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Anatomy , Volume 193 , Issue 4 , November 1998 , pp. 503 - 508
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1998

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