EFFECTS OF L-SERINE ON NEURONS IN-VITRO

We have examined the influence of amino acids on chicken embryonic dor sal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in vitro and have found that serine ha s a marked impact on the morphology of the developing neurites. In cul tures supplemented with L-serine (but not D-serine) at micromolar conc entrations (10-200 mu M), the length of the neurites was increased by up to 100% and they were seen to develop a more complex branching patt ern. These effects of L-serine were found to be concentration-dependen t and stereospecific and were observed on several different substrata such as laminin, Ng-CAM and axonin-1. Similar observations were also m ade in the case of embryonic retinal explants, while the addition of n on-essential amino acids other than L-serine to DRG neurons was found to have no effect. We conclude that, although belonging to the group o f non-essential amino acids and not a recognized neurotransmitter, L-s erine is an important factor for the morphological differentiation of neurons in vitro.