TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential effects of NgCAM and N-cadherin on the development of axons and dendrites by cultured hippocampal neurons
AU - Esch, T.
AU - Lemmon, V.
AU - Banker, G.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by National Institutes of Health grants NS17112 (G.B.) and EY05285 & P30 EY11371 (to V.L.). Teresa Esch was supported in part by a predoctoral fellowship from the National Science Foundation. We thank Hannelore Asmussen for preparation of the neuronal cultures and Michelle Bu-rack for helpful comments on the manuscript.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - A fundamental step in neuronal development is the acquisition of a polarized form, with distinct axons and dendrites. Although the ability to develop a polarized form appears to be largely an intrinsic property of neurons, it can be influenced by environmental cues. For example, in cell cultures substrate and diffusible factors can enhance and orient axonal development. In this study we examine the effects of growth on each of two cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), NgCAM and N-cadherin, on the development of polarity by cultured hippocampal neurons. We find that although the same pattern of development occurs on control substrates and the CAMs, the CAMs greatly accelerate the rate and extent of development of axons - axons form sooner and grow longer on the CAMs than on the control substrate. In contrast, the CAMs have opposite effects on dendritic development - N-cadherin enhances, but NgCAM reduces dendritic growth compared to control. These results provide further evidence that the development of polarity is largely determined by a cell-autonomous program, but that environmental cues can independently regulate axonal and dendritic growth.
AB - A fundamental step in neuronal development is the acquisition of a polarized form, with distinct axons and dendrites. Although the ability to develop a polarized form appears to be largely an intrinsic property of neurons, it can be influenced by environmental cues. For example, in cell cultures substrate and diffusible factors can enhance and orient axonal development. In this study we examine the effects of growth on each of two cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), NgCAM and N-cadherin, on the development of polarity by cultured hippocampal neurons. We find that although the same pattern of development occurs on control substrates and the CAMs, the CAMs greatly accelerate the rate and extent of development of axons - axons form sooner and grow longer on the CAMs than on the control substrate. In contrast, the CAMs have opposite effects on dendritic development - N-cadherin enhances, but NgCAM reduces dendritic growth compared to control. These results provide further evidence that the development of polarity is largely determined by a cell-autonomous program, but that environmental cues can independently regulate axonal and dendritic growth.
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1026515426303
DO - 10.1023/A:1026515426303
M3 - Article
C2 - 11428051
AN - SCOPUS:0033637615
VL - 29
SP - 215
EP - 223
JO - Journal of Neurocytology
JF - Journal of Neurocytology
SN - 0300-4864
IS - 3
ER -