MOUSE CORTICAL-NEURONS LACKING APP SHOW NORMAL NEURITE OUTGROWTH AND SURVIVAL RESPONSES IN-VITRO

WE have cultured neurones from the developing cortex of mice that have had the amyloid precursor protein gene deleted (APP-null). Neurones c ultured for a period of 24 h show similar neurite outgrowth and surviv al responses to wild-type neurones. Similar neurite outgrowth response s were also seen when neurones from APP-null mice were treated with a neurotrophic peptide derived from the APP sequence and compared with w ildtype neurones. Finally, cortical cultures derived from APP-null mic e showed similar survival responses to the toxic amyloid-beta peptide. NeuroReport 9: 3053-3058 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.