Open AccessSegregated neural explants exhibit co-oriented, asymmetric, neurite outgrowth
Author(s) -
David B. Pettigrew,
Curtis B. Dobson,
Lori G. Isaacson,
Eric C. Leuthardt,
Heather N Lilley,
Georgette L. Suidan,
Keith A. Crutcher
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0216263
Subject(s) - neurite , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , neuroscience , nerve growth factor , explant culture , embryonic stem cell , embryo , in vitro , receptor , biochemistry , gene
Explants of embryonic chick sympathetic and sensory ganglia were found to exhibit asymmetric radial outgrowth of neurites under standard culture conditions with or without exogenous Nerve Growth Factor [NGF]. Opposing sides of an explant exhibited: a) differences in neurite length and, b) differences in neurite morphology. Strikingly, this asymmetry exhibited co-orientation among segregated, neighboring explants. The underlying mechanism(s) of the asymmetry and its co-orientation are not known but appear to depend on cell clustering because dissociated sympathetic neurons do not exhibit co-orientation whereas re-aggregated clusters of cells do. This emergent behavior may be similar to the community effect described in other cell types. If a similar phenomenon exists in the embryo, or in maturity, it may contribute to the establishment of proper orientation of neurite outgrowth during development and/or injury-induced neuronal plasticity.