Retina and optic tectum interact to modulate taurine effect on goldfish and rat retinal explants outgrowth.

The medium from cultured optic tectum of the goldfish intact or at various days after optic nerve crush, or the co-culture of this optic tectum with post-crush goldfish retinal explants plating in the absence of fetal calf serum, but in the presence of glucose, modulate its outgrowth. The a dition of taurine did not further stimulate outgrowth but rather inhibited it in the presence of optic tectum. These processes were related to calcium fluxes and taurine transport into the cells. Taurine increased the length of neurites from 5-day-old rat retinal explants in the presence of fetal calf serum. The goldfish optic tectum, either medium or in co-culture with the retina, stimulated retinal outgrowth. The study of optic nerve regeneration in the presence of defined media contributes to understanding tissue-target and interspecies interaction.