Brain-derived neurotrophic factor mediates non-cell-autonomous regulation of sensory neuron position and identity

During development, neurons migrate considerable distances to reside in locations that enable their individual functional roles. Whereas migration mechanisms have been extensively studied, much less is known about how neurons remain in their ideal locations. We sought to identify factors that maintain the position of postmigratory dorsal root ganglion neurons, neural crest derivatives for which migration and final position play an important developmental role. We found that an early developing population of sensory neurons maintains the position of later born dorsal root ganglia neurons in an activity-dependent manner. Further, inhibiting or increasing the function of brain-derived neurotrophic factor induces or prevents, respectively, migration of dorsal root ganglia neurons out of the ganglion to locations where they acquire a new identity. Overall, the results demonstrate that neurotrophins mediate non-cell-autonomous maintenance of position and thereby the identity of differentiated neurons.