[Effect of neuropeptide NAP on cultured neuroepithelial cells from rabbit retina].

Objective: With the rabbit iris pigment epithelial cells (IPECs), which were containing the NT4-NAP fusion gene, taken as the substituting secreting cells producing the neuropeptide NAP, the effect of neuropeptide NAP on the growth status of retinal neuroepithelial cells of rabbit was examined and explored.

Methods: The iris pigment epithelial cells and retinal neuroepithelial cells of rabbit were cultured; rAAV-GFP and rAAV-NAP (containing NT4-NAP fusion gene) were constructed; the rabbit IPECs were infected with rAAV-GFP and rAAV-NAP; the infections of viruses were detected by GFP fluorescence expression; the supernatant of culture from rabbit IPECs with NAP was collected and added into the culture medium of rabbit retinal neuroepithelial cells, and the growth state of retinal neuroepithelial cell was observed.

Results: Compared to control cells, the rabbit IPECs could express the GFP fluorescence. The rabbit retinal neuroepithelial cells with NAP supernatant could survive more, and the survival cells showed longer and stronger axons. On 14's day of cell culture, the mean axon length of NAP group was (14. 6+/-1. 1) microm, while that of control group was only (3. 1+/-0. 6) mircom. Obviously, a significant difference existed between two groups (P<0. 05).

Conclusion: The rabbit IPECs with NT4-NAP fusion gene can secrete NAP, and the NAP can promise the growth of rabbit retinal