Logo image
Arrest of afferent axon extension by target neurons in vitro is regulated by the NMDA receptor
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Arrest of afferent axon extension by target neurons in vitro is regulated by the NMDA receptor

D H Baird, E Trenkner and C A Mason
The Journal of neuroscience, v 16(8), pp 2642-2648
15 Apr 1996
PMID: 8786440
url
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-08-02642.1996View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Cerebellar granule neurons in vitro specifically arrest the extension of their appropriate presynaptic axons, mossy fibers. This “stop- growing signal” may be an essential step in the formation and specificity of synapses. Here, we have tested whether ionotropic glutamate receptors are involved in the stop-growing signal. When explants of basilar pontine nuclei, a mossy fiber source, were cultured on granule neurons, most pontine neurites terminated <200 microm from their explant of origin, a criterion for the stop-growing signal. In contrast, treatment with the NMDA antagonist D(-)-2-amino-5- phosphonopentanoic acid (D-AP5) greatly increased the number of pontine neurites extending beyond 300 microm, whereas treatment with NMDA reduced the number of pontine neurites extending beyond 200 microm. A non-NMDA agonist (AMPA) and antagonist (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3- dione) did not alter pontine neurite lengths. None of these agents affected neurite outgrowth from pontine explants in the absence of granule neurons, nor did any agent affect the survival of granule neurons. These results indicate that NMDA and D-AP5 specifically perturb an interaction between axons and target cells necessary for the stop-growing signal, and that NMDA receptors are critical for the development of a major cerebellar afferent system. These findings also suggest that NMDA-sensitive refinement of axon arbors during later development may involve the direct regulation of axon extension by target neurons.

Metrics

8 Record Views
38 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Neurosciences
Logo image