Antibody to collapsin response mediator protein 1 promotes neurite outgrowth from rat hippocampal neurons

This study examined the role of collapsin response mediator protein 1 （CRMP-1） on neurite outgrowth from rat hippocampal neurons by blocking its function using an antibody. Hippocampal neurons, cultured in vitro, were treated （blocked） using a polyclonal antibody to CRMP-1, and neurite outgrowth and cytoskeletal changes were captured using atomic force microscopy and laser confocal microscopy. Control cells, treated with normal rabbit IgG, established their characteristic morphology and had a large number of processes emerging from the soma, including numerous branches. Microtubules were clearly visible in the soma, formed an elaborate network, and were aligned in parallel arrays to form bundles which projected into neurites. After blocking with CRMP-1 antibody, the number of branches emerging from axons and dendrites significantly increased and were substantially longer, compared with control cells. However, the microtubule network nearly disappeared and only a few remnants were visible. When CRMP-1 antibody-blocked neurons were treated with the Rho inhibitor, Y27632, numerous neurites emerged from the soma, and branches were more abundant than in control neurons. Although the microtubules were not as clearly visible compared with neurons cultured in control medium, the microtubule network recovered in cells treated with Y27632, when compared with cells that were blocked by CRMP-1 antibody （but not treated with Y27632）. These results demonstrate that neurite outgrowth from hippocampal neurons can be promoted by blocking CRMP-1 with a polyclonal antibody.

mRNA expression of Rho GTPase-related signaling molecules during rat hippocampal development

BACKGROUND： Rho GTPase family members have been shown to participate in neurite growth by regulating the neuronal cytoskeleton. However, there are very few reports of developmental roles of signaling molecules related to Rho GTPases. OBJECTIVE： To investigate messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA expression of signaling molecules associated with Rho GTPases, including Rho-A, Rac-1, collapsin response mediator protein 1 （CRMP-1）, and tubulin 133 （Tub/33） during rat hippocampus development. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING- A non-randomized, controlled, animal experiment, based on different developmental stages of the rat hippocampus, was performed at the Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tissue Construction and Detection, Institute of Clinical Anatomy, Southern Medical University between December 2005 and July 2007. MATERIALS： Trizol reagent was purchased from Invitrogen, USA. RNA PCR kit （AMV） Ver 3.0 and 150 bp DNA Ladder Marker were purchased from TaKaRa, Japan. Unless otherwise specified, all other reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, USA. METHODS： Twenty-five Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to five groups （n = 5） according to developmental stages： embryonic （embryonic 15 days）, neonatal （postnatal 5 days）, juvenile （postnatal 1 month）, adult （postnatal 3 months）, and senile （postnatal 18 months）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Detection of mRNA expression of Rho-A, Rac-1, CRMP-1, and Tub β3 during various hippocampal developmental stages by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS： Hippocampal mRNA expression of Rho-A, as well as Rac-1, reached peak levels at embryonic, juvenile, and senile stages, and was relatively less during neonatal and adult stages. mRNA expression of Rac-1 was greater than Rho-A during each hippocampal developmental stage. CRMP-1 mRNA expression levels were as follows： embryonic 〉 neonatal 〉 juvenile 〉 adult 〈 senile, while Tubβ3 mRNA expression was embryonic 〉 neonatal 〉 juvenile 〉 adult = senile. CONCLUSION： Rho-A and Rac-1 shared similar expression profiles, which demonstrated similar variations during the entire rat hippocampus developmental process. However, Rac-1 mRNA expression remained greater than Rho-A. Both CRMP-1 and Tubβ3 mRNA expression profiles gradually declined during hippocampal development from embryonic to adult stages. Tubβ3 mRNA expression arrested during the adult stage, and CRMP-1 mRNA expression increased during the senile stage.