Vertebrate spinal commissural neurons: a model system for studying axon guidance beyond the midline

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Martinez ◽  
Tracy S. Tran
Keyword(s):  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Model System ◽  
Commissural Neurons

scholarly journals Cbln1 regulates axon growth and guidance in multiple neural regions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng-Jian Ji ◽  
Peng Han ◽  
Yuanchu She ◽  
Zhuoxuan Yang ◽  
Mengru Zhuang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
System Development ◽  
Axon Growth ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Commissural Neurons ◽  
Guidance Cues ◽  
Guidance Cue

The accurate construction of neural circuits requires the precise control of axon growth and guidance, which is regulated by multiple growth and guidance cues during early nervous system development. It is generally thought that the growth and guidance cues that control the major steps of axon guidance have been defined. Here, we describe cerebellin-1 (Cbln1) as a novel cue that controls diverse aspects of axon growth and guidance throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Cbln1 has previously been shown to function in late neural development to influence synapse organization. Here we find that Cbln1 has an essential role in early neural development. Cbln1 is expressed on the axons and growth cones of developing commissural neurons and functions in an autocrine manner to promote axon growth. Cbln1 is also expressed in intermediate target tissues and functions as an attractive guidance cue. We find that these functions of Cbln1 are mediated by neurexin-2 (Nrxn2), which functions as the Cbln1 receptor for axon growth and guidance. In addition to the developing spinal cord, we further show that Cbln1 functions in diverse parts of the CNS with major roles in cerebellar parallel fiber growth and retinal ganglion cell axon guidance. Despite the prevailing role of Cbln1 as a synaptic organizer, our study discovers a new and unexpected function for Cbln1 as a general axon growth and guidance cue throughout the nervous system.

Neuron–glia interactions during axon guidance in Drosophila

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hidalgo
Keyword(s):  
Cell Survival ◽  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Growth Cone ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Model System ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Reciprocal Interactions

Axons navigate to trace stereotypic trajectories over an environment often rich in glial cells. Once axonal trajectories are defined, their structuring proceeds through multiple fasciculation and defasciculation events, to finally establish the mature bundles. Fasciculation and ensheathment also proceed in close association between axons and glial cells, and ultimately require glia. The cross-talk between axons and glia during axon guidance is manifested in: (i) axonal fasciculation and bundling, promoted by glia; (ii) growth cone guidance, as glia function as guidepost cells at choice points; (iii) glial migration patterns, which are influenced by neurons; (iv) cell survival control, which constrains position and number of both cell types; and (iv) connectivity, where an axon contacts its final target aided by glial cells. Understanding the reciprocal interactions between neurons and glia during guidance and fasciculation is absolutely necessary to implement repair of axonal trajectories upon damage. Drosophila can be used as a model system for these purposes.

scholarly journals Building Spinal and Brain Commissures: Axon Guidance at the Midline

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Castellani
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
General Role ◽  
Commissural Neurons ◽  
Common Task ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Brain And Spinal Cord

Commissural circuits are brain and spinal cord connections which interconnect the two sides of the central nervous system (CNS). They play essential roles in brain and spinal cord processing, ensuring left-right coordination and synchronization of information and commands. During the formation of neuronal circuits, all commissural neurons of the central nervous system must accomplish a common task, which is to project their axon onto the other side of the nervous system, across the midline that delineates the two halves of the CNS. How this task is accomplished has been the topic of extensive studies over the last past 20 years and remains one of the best models to investigate axon guidance mechanisms. In the first part of this review, I will introduce the commissural circuits, their general role in the physiology of the nervous system, and their recognized or suspected pathogenic properties in human diseases. In the second part of the review, I will concentrate on two commissural circuits, the spinal commissures and the corpus callosum, to detail the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing their formation, mostly during their navigation at the midline.

scholarly journals NOVA regulates Dcc alternative splicing during neuronal migration and axon guidance in the spinal cord

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janelle C Leggere ◽  
Yuhki Saito ◽  
Robert B Darnell ◽  
Marc Tessier-Lavigne ◽  
Harald J Junge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Axon Guidance ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Neuronal Migration ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Splice Variants ◽  
Commissural Neurons

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) control multiple aspects of post-transcriptional gene regulation and function during various biological processes in the nervous system. To further reveal the functional significance of RBPs during neural development, we carried out an in vivo RNAi screen in the dorsal spinal cord interneurons, including the commissural neurons. We found that the NOVA family of RBPs play a key role in neuronal migration, axon outgrowth, and axon guidance. Interestingly, Nova mutants display similar defects as the knockout of the Dcc transmembrane receptor. We show here that Nova deficiency disrupts the alternative splicing of Dcc, and that restoring Dcc splicing in Nova knockouts is able to rescue the defects. Together, our results demonstrate that the production of DCC splice variants controlled by NOVA has a crucial function during many stages of commissural neuron development.

A Protozoan Model for Golgi-Associated Calcification

1971 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 332-333
Author(s):  
D. C. Williams ◽  
D. E. Outka
Keyword(s):  
Golgi Apparatus ◽  
Organic Matrix ◽  
Model System ◽  
Sequential Formation

Many studies have shown that the Golgi apparatus is involved in a variety of synthetic activities, and probably no Golgi product is more elaborate than the scales produced by various kinds of phytoflagellates. The formation of calcified scales (coccoliths, Fig. 1,2) of the coccolithophorid phytoflagellates provides a particularly interesting model system for the study of biological mineralization, and the sequential formation of Golgi products.The coccoliths of Hymenomonas carterae consist of a scale-like base (Fig. 2 and 4, b) with a highly structured calcified (CaCO3) rim composed of two distinct elements which alternate about the base periphery (Fig. 1 and 3, A, B). Each element is enveloped by a sheath-like organic matrix (Fig. 3; Fig. 4, m).

Existence of DNA in yeast microbodies

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-233
Author(s):  
Masako Osumi ◽  
Misuzu Nagano ◽  
Hiroko Kazama
Keyword(s):  
Catalase Activity ◽  
Buoyant Density ◽  
Model System ◽  
Contour Length ◽  
Native State ◽  
Normal Alkane ◽  
Remarkable Increase ◽  
Dna Molecule ◽  
Mitochondrial Dnas

We have found that microbodies appeared profusely together with a remarkable increase in catalase activity in normal alkane-grown cells of hydrocarbon-utilizing Candida yeasts, and that the microbodies multiplied by division in these cells. These features of Candida yeasts seem to provide a useful model system for studies on the biogenesis of the microbody. Subsequently, we have succeeded in isolation of Candida microbodies in an apparently native state, as judged biochemically and morphologically. The presence of DNA in the purified microbody fraction thus obtained was proved by the diphenylamine method. DNA molecule of about 15 urn in contour length was released from an isolated microbody. The physicochemical analyses of the microbody DNA revealed that its buoyant density differed from nuclear and mitochondrial DNAs. All these results lead us to the possibility that there is a novel type of DNA in microbodies.

The coprecipitation of Cr3P and Cr in Cu

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 764-765
Author(s):  
M.J. Witcomb ◽  
U. Dahmen ◽  
K.H. Westmacott
Keyword(s):  
Orientation Relationship ◽  
Interface Structure ◽  
Model System ◽  
Relative Orientation ◽  
Age Hardening ◽  
Precipitation Behavior ◽  
Solution Treated ◽  
Small Needle ◽  
Diffraction Patterns ◽  
Interface Structures

Cu-Cr age-hardening alloys are of interest as a model system for the investigation of fcc/bcc interface structures. Several past studies have investigated the morphology and interface structure of Cr precipitates in a Cu matrix (1-3) and good success has been achieved in understanding the crystallography and strain contrast of small needle-shaped precipitates. The present study investigates the effect of small amounts of phosphorous on the precipitation behavior of Cu-Cr alloys.The same Cu-0.3% Cr alloy as was used in earlier work was rolled to a thickness of 150 μm, solution treated in vacuum at 1050°C for 1h followed by quenching and annealing for various times at 820 and 863°C.Two laths and their corresponding diffraction patterns in an alloy aged 2h at 820°C are shown in correct relative orientation in Fig. 1. To within the limit of accuracy of the diffraction patterns the orientation relationship was that of Kurdjumov-Sachs (KS), i.e. parallel close-packed planes and directions.

Membrane-associated microtubular areays induced in proximal myelinated processes of dorsal root ganglia by large doses of vitamin B6

1986 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 368-369
Author(s):  
V.J. Montpetit ◽  
S. Dancea ◽  
L. Tryphonas ◽  
D.F. Clapin
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Dorsal Root Ganglia ◽  
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Dorsal Root ◽  
Vitamin B6 ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Model System ◽  
Sensory Nerves ◽  
Peripheral Sensory

Very large doses of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) are neurotoxic in humans, selectively affecting the peripheral sensory nerves. We have undertaken a study of the morphological and biochemical aspects of pyridoxine neurotoxicity in an animal model system. Early morphological changes in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) associated with pyridoxine megadoses include proliferation of neurofilaments, ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complexes. We present in this report evidence of the formation of unique aggregates of microtubules and membranes in the proximal processes of DRG which are induced by high levels of pyridoxine.

An Ultrastructural Comparison of Hepatocytes from ADH+ and ADH−Peromyscus Maniculatus

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 30-31
Author(s):  
J. T. Ellzey ◽  
D. Borunda ◽  
B. P. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Model System ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Genetic Stock ◽  
Hepes Buffer ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Color Scanner

Genetically alcohol deficient deer mice (ADHN/ADHN) (obtained from the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, Univ. of South Carolina) lack hepatic cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase. In order to determine if these deer mice would provide a model system for an ultrastructural study of the effects of ethanol on hepatocyte organelles, 75 micrographs of ADH+ adult male deer mice (n=5) were compared with 75 micrographs of ADH− adult male deer mice (n=5). A morphometric analysis of mitochondrial and peroxisomal parameters was undertaken.The livers were perfused with 0.1M HEPES buffer followed by 0.25% glutaraldehyde and 2% sucrose in 0.1M HEPES buffer (4C), removed, weighed and fixed by immersion in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M HEPES buffer, pH 7.4, followed by a 3,3’ diaminobenzidine (DAB) incubation, postfixation with 2% OsO4, en bloc staining with 1% uranyl acetate in 0.025M maleate-NaOH buffer, dehydrated, embedded in Poly/Bed 812-BDMA epon resin, sectioned and poststained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Photographs were taken on a Zeiss EM-10 transmission electron microscope, scanned with a Howtek personal color scanner, analyzed with OPTIMAS 4.02 software on a Gateway2000 4DX2-66V personal computer and stored in Excel 4.0.

Elemental analysis of human erythrocytes

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 242-243
Author(s):  
S. A. Livesey ◽  
A. A. del Campo ◽  
E. S. Griffey ◽  
D. Ohlmer ◽  
T. Schifani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Elemental Analysis ◽  
Human Erythrocyte ◽  
Spectroscopic Analysis ◽  
Model System ◽  
Human Erythrocytes ◽  
List Type ◽  
Chemical Fixation ◽  
Ethanol Dehydration ◽  
Lowicryl K4m

The aim of this study is to compare methods of sample preparation for elemental analysis. The model system which is used is the human erythrocyte. Energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis has been previously reported for cryofixed and cryosectioned erythrocytes. Such work represents the reference point for this study. The use of plastic embedded samples for elemental analysis has also been documented. The work which is presented here is based on human erythrocytes which have been either chemically fixed and embedded or cryofixed and subsequently processed by a variety of techniques which culminated in plastic embedded samples.Heparinized and washed erythrocytes were prepared by the following methods for this study :(1). Chemical fixation in 4% paraformaldehyde/0.25% glutaraldehyde/0.2 M sucrose in 0.1 M Na cacodylate, pH 7.3 for 30 min, followed by ethanol dehydration, infiltration and embedding in Lowicryl K4M at -20° C.

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