Open AccessAxon substitution in the reorganization of developing neural connections.
Author(s) -
Pradeep G. Bhide,
Douglas O. Frost
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.89.24.11847
Subject(s) - neuroscience , somatosensory system , retinal , retina , axon , neural development , biology , projection (relational algebra) , retinal waves , transient (computer programming) , computer science , retinal ganglion cell , biochemistry , algorithm , intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells , gene , operating system
Insights into the mechanisms of normal and pathological neural development may be gained by studying the reorganization of developing neural connections, caused experimentally or by disease. Many reorganized connections are assumed to arise by the anomalous stabilization of transient connections that occur during normal development. We report that, although the retina projects transiently to the somatosensory system in normal developing hamsters, the permanent retinal projections to the somatosensory system that arise as a consequence of early brain lesions are not formed by the stabilization of the normally transient projection. Instead, the transient retinal axons are replaced by retinal axons that do not normally project to the somatosensory system. The distinction between anomalous stabilization and substitution is significant for determining the cellular mechanisms underlying the development of neural connectivity.