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Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons
Published on: July 13, 2011
The extracellular matrix molecule Collagen XVIII/CLE-1 affects neuronal dendritic spines
Michele Lemons L1,2, Hailey McKillop1, Noelia Genao1
1Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, Assumption University, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States.
Abstract:
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a rich collection of macromolecules that influences numerous cellular functions; however, its roles at neuronal synapses are not fully understood. Using dendritic spines of Caenorhabditis elegans GABAergic neurons as a model, we found that the ECM component Collagen XVIII/ CLE-1 is localized in close proximity to dendritic spines and is important for their normal development and maintenance. Specific expression of cle-1 in GABAergic neurons partially rescued the reduction in spine number in cle-1 ( cg120 ) mutants . Together, our findings suggest that Collagen XVIII/ CLE-1 regulates dendritic spines, in part through local CLE-1 deposition from GABAergic neurons.
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