ANGIOTENSIN-IV INHIBITS NEURITE OUTGROWTH IN CULTURED EMBRYONIC CHICKEN SYMPATHETIC NEURONS

Angiotensin TV (Val-Tyr-Ile-His-Pro-Phe) is reported to enhance apomor phine induced stereotypy and to improve memory recall through actions on specific binding sites in the central nervous system. In the presen t study, 10 nM angiotensin IV or angiotensin LI inhibited neurite outg rowth from cultured Ell chicken paravertebral sympathetic neurones by 25%. The effects of both peptides were inhibited by a 1 mu M concentra tion of the angiotensin IV analogues, WSU 4042, Nle(1)-Y-I-amide or Nl e(1)-AIV, but not by the avian angiotensin II antagonists, [Sar(1),Ile (8)]Ang II or CGP 42112, suggesting that the inhibition of neurite out growth by both peptides is mediated by the angiotensin TV binding site . These results suggest that angiotensin IV may be involved in neurite modelling and may therefore have an important role in neuronal develo pment.