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Oxytocin Increases Neurite Length and Expression of Cytoskeletal Proteins Associated with Neuronal Growth

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Abstract

Neuropeptide oxytocin acts as a growth and differentiation factor; however, its effects on neurite growth are poorly understood. The aims of the present study were (1) to evaluate time effects of oxytocin on expression of nestin and MAP2; (2) to measure the effect of oxytocin on gene expression of β-actin, vimentin, cofilin, and drebrin; and (3) to measure changes in neurite length and number in response to oxytocin/oxytocin receptor antagonist L-371,257. Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to 1 μM oxytocin resulted in a significant increase in gene expression and protein levels of nestin after 12, 24, and 48 h. Oxytocin treatment induced no changes in gene expression of MAP2; however, a decrease of protein levels was observed in all time intervals. Gene expression of β-actin, vimentin, and drebrin increased in response to oxytocin. Oxytocin induced significant elongation of neurites after 12, 24, and 48 h. No change in neurite length was observed in the presence of the combination of retinoic acid and oxytocin receptor antagonist L-371,257. Oxytocin treatment for 12 h increased the number of neurites. Overall, the present data suggest that oxytocin contributes to the regulation of expression of cytoskeletal proteins associated with growth of neuronal cones and induces neurite elongation mediated by oxytocin receptors at least in certain types of neuronal cells.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by project 2/0119/15 of the Grant Agency of Ministry of Education and Slovak Academy of Sciences (VEGA), by the Slovak Research and Development Agency project APVV-0253-10.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vlarska 3, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Z. Lestanova, Z. Bacova, A. Kiss, T. Havranek, V. Strbak & J. Bakos

  2. Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia

    J. Bakos

  3. Department of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia

    Z. Bacova & V. Strbak

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  1. Z. Lestanova
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Lestanova, Z., Bacova, Z., Kiss, A. et al. Oxytocin Increases Neurite Length and Expression of Cytoskeletal Proteins Associated with Neuronal Growth. J Mol Neurosci 59, 184–192 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-015-0664-9

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