Neurite outgrowth stimulated by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A requires activation of tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C.

Activation of tyrosine kinases is established as an important mechanism for controlling growth cone motility and neurite outgrowth. We have tested the effects of a range of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on neurite outgrowth from postnatal day 4 cerebellar granule cells cultured over confluent monolayers of 3T3 fibroblasts. The only agent that had any effect was herbimycin A, which stimulated neurite outgrowth. The response is shown to be attributable to a direct effect of this tyrosine kinase inhibitor on neurones. The neurite outgrowth response to herbimycin A was inhibited by two other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which on their own did not affect neurite outgrowth. The data suggest that the response to herbimycin A reflects either a direct or indirect activation of one or more protein tyrosine kinases. Independent signalling events down-stream from tyrosine kinase activation underlying the neurite outgrowth response to herbimycin A include increased activity of protein kinase C and calcium influx into neurones through both N- and L-type calcium channels.