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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Inducing Dendritic Growth in Cultured Sympathetic Neurons
Published on: March 21, 2012
Semaphorin 3A induces CaV2.3 channel-dependent conversion of axons to dendrites
Makoto Nishiyama1, Kazunobu Togashi, Melanie J von Schimmelmann
1Department of Biochemistry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016-6402, USA. nishim01@nyumc.org
Abstract:
Polarized neurites (axons and dendrites) form the functional circuitry of the nervous system. Secreted guidance cues often control the polarity of neuron migration and neurite outgrowth by regulating ion channels. Here, we show that secreted semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) induces the neurite identity of Xenopus spinal commissural interneurons (xSCINs) by activating Ca(V)2.3 channels (Ca(V)2.3). Sema3A treatment converted the identity of axons of cultured xSCINs to that of dendrites by recruiting functional Ca(V)2.3. Inhibition of Sema3A signalling prevented both the expression of Ca(V)2.3 and acquisition of the dendrite identity, and inhibition of Ca(V)2.3 function resulted in multiple axon-like neurites of xSCINs in the spinal cord. Furthermore, Sema3A-triggered cGMP production and PKG activity induced, respectively, the expression of functional Ca(V)2.3 and the dendrite identity. These results reveal a mechanism by which a guidance cue controls the identity of neurites during nervous system development.
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