Related Experiment Videos
In vitro experiments on axonal guidance and growth-cone collapse
B Müller1, B Stahl, F Bonhoeffer
1Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, FRG.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Temporal retinal axons avoid posterior tectal membranes, guided by a repellent molecule that also causes growth cone collapse. This molecule
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Axonal guidance is crucial for forming neural circuits.
- The retinotectal projection provides a model system for studying guidance mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecules mediating axonal guidance in the retinotectal projection.
- To investigate the relationship between axonal guidance and growth cone collapse.
Main Methods:
- In vitro experiments using striped substrata of anterior and posterior tectal membranes.
- Identification of a repellent guidance molecule.
- Assays for growth cone collapse induced by membrane components and purified molecules.
Main Results:
- Temporal retinal axons avoid posterior tectal membranes, preferring anterior ones.
- A single glycoprotein molecule mediates both repellent guidance and growth cone collapse.
- This molecule exhibits regional specificity, affecting temporal but not nasal axons.
Conclusions:
- A repellent guidance molecule from the posterior tectum guides temporal axons.
- This molecule's dual function in guidance and collapse suggests a common underlying mechanism.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the models of axonal guidance.