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Growth cone inhibition – an important mechanism in neural development?
Author(s) -
Davis Jamie A.,
Cook Geoffrey M. W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950130103
Subject(s) - growth cone , neuroscience , mechanism (biology) , neural development , biology , lateral inhibition , cone (formal languages) , identification (biology) , segmentation , computer science , artificial intelligence , axon , physics , gene , genetics , algorithm , botany , quantum mechanics
Since the growth cone was first described a century ago by Cajal, considerable effort has been directed towards understanding the mechanisms responsible for its guidance. Traditionally, attention has focussed on the role of adhesive molecules in determining neural development. Recently, it has become apparent that inhibitory interactions may play a crucial part in axonal navigation. A common feature of inhibition seen in three model systems (peripheral nerve segmentation, retinotectal mapping and CNS/PNS segregation) is a collapse of the motile structures of the growth cone. It is increasingly clear that the identification of molecular mechanisms of inhibition, as well as those of adhesion, will be of fundamental importance to understanding neural development.