Premium
Glutamate acting on NMDA receptors stimulates neurite outgrowth from cerebellar granule cells
Author(s) -
Pearce Ian A.,
Cambray-Deakin Martin A.,
Burgoyne Robert D.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(87)80525-2
Subject(s) - neurite , glutamate receptor , nmda receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , endogeny , granule (geology) , cerebellum , receptor , chemistry , granule cell , biology , neuroscience , biochemistry , central nervous system , in vitro , paleontology , dentate gyrus
The effect of endogenous glutamate on neurite outgrowth from cerebellar granule cells in culture was examined. Neurite outgrowth was inhibited by enzymatic removal of endogenous glutamate from the culture medium. The broad‐spectrum glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenate also inhibited neurite outgrowth from granule cells in serum‐containing and serum‐free cultures; the inhibition by kynurenate was reversed by exogenous glutamate. Neurite outgrowth was inhibited to the same extent by the NMDA receptor antagonist APV. These results indicate that endogenous glutamate, possibly released by granule cells themselves, stimulated neurite outgrowth through activation of the NMDA class of glutamate receptors. Activation of NMDA receptors on developing neurons may be an important mechanism for the regulation of neuronal growth and differentiation.