摘要
Activin A, which was first described in 1986, has been shown to maintain hippocampal neuronal survival. Activin A increases intracellular free Ca2＋ via L-type Ca2＋ channels. Our previous study showed that activin A promotes neurite growth of dorsal root ganglia in embryonic chickens and inhibits nitric oxide secretion. The present study demonstrated for the first time that activin A could maintain cerebral cortex neuronal survival in vitro for a long period, and that activin A was shown to increase voltage-gated Na＋ current （/Na） in Neuro-2a cells, which was recorded by patch clamp technique. The present study revealed a novel mechanism for activin A, as well as the influence of activin A on neurons by regulating expressions of vasoactive intestine peptide and inducible nitric oxide synthase.
Activin A, which was first described in 1986, has been shown to maintain hippocampal neuronal survival. Activin A increases intracellular free Ca2＋ via L-type Ca2＋ channels. Our previous study showed that activin A promotes neurite growth of dorsal root ganglia in embryonic chickens and inhibits nitric oxide secretion. The present study demonstrated for the first time that activin A could maintain cerebral cortex neuronal survival in vitro for a long period, and that activin A was shown to increase voltage-gated Na＋ current （/Na） in Neuro-2a cells, which was recorded by patch clamp technique. The present study revealed a novel mechanism for activin A, as well as the influence of activin A on neurons by regulating expressions of vasoactive intestine peptide and inducible nitric oxide synthase.
基金
the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.30903123, 30901329
the Project of Science and Technology of Jilin Province, No.20090741, 20090185
