Wang_2019_Int.J.Physiol.Pathophysiol.Pharmacol_11_115

The growth of neurites underlies the axonal pathfinding and synaptic formation during neuronal development and regeneration. Neurite growth is regulated by specific interactions between growth cone receptors and their ligands that function as molecular cues existing in microenvironments. Neurexins (NRXNs) are concentrated on growth cones and they may function to constrain axonal branches of invertebrate neurons. The present study explored the role of NRXN-1alpha in regulating neurite growth of mammalian neurons. Results showed that transfecting an effective NRXN-1alpha siRNA to cultured rat hippocampal neurons significantly increased neurite length. Adding NRXN-1alpha ligands including neuroligin (NLGN) peptide and/or alpha-latrotoxin (alpha-LTX) to the culture media largely decreased neurite growth of naive neurons in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner, but had no effect on neurite growth of neurons transfected with NRXN-1alpha siRNA. Our results suggest that NRXN-1alpha regulates neurite development of mammalian neurons.