DENDRITE-ASSOCIATED CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE, TELENCEPHALIN, PROMOTES NEURITE OUTGROWTH IN MOUSE EMBRYO

Telencephalin (TLCN) is a dendrite-associated cell adhesion molecule e xpressed by neurons within the telencephalon. It belongs to the interc ellular adhesion molecule subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily. To examine a neurite outgrowth-promoting activity, neurons dissociated from mouse embryos were cultured on the substrate of recombinant mous e TLCN protein. Hippocampal neurons extended multiple neurites on TLCN . The neurite outgrowth on TLCN was suppressed by an anti-TLCN antibod y. Non-telencephalic neurons also extended neurites on TLCN. These res ults demonstrate a neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of TLCN and su ggest that both telencephalic and non-telencephalic neurons express TL CN counter-receptor(s) which is coupled to the neurite outgrowth. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.