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.
Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.