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Netrin-3 protein is localized to the axons of motor, sensory, and sympathetic neurons
1Development and Neurobiology Unit, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, 3050, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract:
The netrin family of axon guidance cues has been shown to play a pivotal role in the guidance of a variety of axon projections during embryonic development, both in the vertebrate and invertebrate. While the guidance potential of netrin-1 has been examined in depth in many regions of the developing mouse brain very little information is available on the expression and activity of netrin-3. Here we show that the netrin-3 protein is present on motor neurons and subpopulations of neurons within sensory and sympathetic ganglia. Moreover, significant levels of netrin-3 protein were found to be associated with the axons projecting from these neurons suggesting a role for netrin-3 in axon pathfinding and fasciculation within the peripheral nervous system.
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