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Changes in membrane trafficking and actin dynamics during axon formation in cultured hippocampal neurons
Author(s) -
Bradke Frank,
Dotti Carlos G.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(20000101)48:1<3::aid-jemt2>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - axon , hippocampal formation , actin , neurite , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , neuroscience , biophysics , in vitro , biochemistry
Neurons begin to polarize when one of the neurites becomes the axon. Hippocampal neurons in cell culture have a sharp transition between their unpolarized and polarized stage revealed by the rapid growth of the future axon. Recent progress shows that both a cytoplasmic membrane flow and actin dynamics govern axon formation, and thereby initial neuronal polarization. We here review these mechanisms, evaluate their physiological role, and show similarities to the transient polarization of migrating fibroblasts. Finally, we present a model how actin dynamics and vectorial membrane flow may interact to achieve axon formation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 48:3–11, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.