Induction of neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells by an inhibitor of vacuolar H+‐ATPase, bafilomycin A1

Abstract

Bafilomycin A₁, a selective inhibitor of vacuolar H⁺‐ATPase, induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells dose‐ and time‐dependently: more than 50% of the cells extended neurite‐like spikes after 24 h treatment with 100 nM bafilomycin A₁. Its dose‐response ran roughly parallel to that of a bafilomycin A₁‐induced lysosomal pH increase. It was inhibited by LiCl, an inhibitor of the phosphorylation of microtubule‐associated proteins and, like nerve growth factor (NGF)‐induced neurite outgrowth, it was also inhibited by cycloheximide and actinomycin D. But, unlike the NGF‐effect, it was not associated with rapid induction of c‐fos.