Designed cyclopentenone prostaglandin derivatives as neurite outgrowth-promoting compounds for CAD cells, a rat catecholaminergic neuronal cell line of the central nervous system

Here we reported the effects of neurite outgrowth-promoting prostaglandins (NEPP's) on neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). Serum deprivation promoted neurite outgrowth from CAD cells, a CNS-derived cathecholaminergic neuronal cell line. NEPP's (0.05-0.2 mu M) accelerated the neurite outgrow th from CAD cells in serum-free medium but didn't in serum-containing mediu m. Through the study of structure-function relationship with the NEPP's 1-1 0, NEPP 10 (13,14-dihydro-15-epi-Delta(7)-prostaglandin A(1) (methyl ester) revealed the best compound, exhibiting potent neurite outgrowth-promoting activity with minimal cytotoxicity, suggesting that it is the best compound for drug development. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights re served.