Uncoupling of EphA/ephrinA Signaling and Spontaneous Activity in Neural Circuit Wiring

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2013 Nov 15

PMID 24227729

Citations 18

Authors

Isabel Benjumeda

Augusto Escalante

Chris Law

Daniel Morales

Geraud Chauvin

Gerald Muca

Yaiza Coca

Joaquin Marquez

Guillermina Lopez-Bendito

Artur Kania

Luis Martinez

Eloisa Herrera

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Classic studies have proposed that genetically encoded programs and spontaneous activity play complementary but independent roles in the development of neural circuits. Recent evidence, however, suggests that these two mechanisms could interact extensively, with spontaneous activity affecting the expression and function of guidance molecules at early developmental stages. Here, using the developing chick spinal cord and the mouse visual system to ectopically express the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir2.1 in individual embryonic neurons, we demonstrate that cell-intrinsic blockade of spontaneous activity in vivo does not affect neuronal identity specification, axon pathfinding, or EphA/ephrinA signaling during the development of topographic maps. However, intrinsic spontaneous activity is critical for axon branching and pruning once axonal growth cones reach their correct topographic position in the target tissues. Our experiments argue for the dissociation of spontaneous activity from hard-wired developmental programs in early phases of neural circuit formation.

Citing Articles

EphA4 Mediates EphrinB1-Dependent Adhesion in Retinal Ganglion Cells.

Murcia-Belmonte V, Chauvin G, Coca Y, Escalante A, Klein R, Herrera E J Neurosci. 2024; 45(4.

PMID: 39622649 PMC: 11756631. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0043-24.2024.

Proper Frequency of Perinatal Retinal Waves Is Essential for the Precise Wiring of Visual Axons in Nonimage-Forming Nuclei.

Negueruela S, Morenilla-Palao C, Sala S, Ordono P, Herrera M, Coca Y J Neurosci. 2024; 44(40).

PMID: 39151955 PMC: 11450533. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1408-23.2024.

Epigenetic and Transcriptional Regulation of Spontaneous and Sensory Activity Dependent Programs During Neuronal Circuit Development.

Pumo G, Kitazawa T, Rijli F Front Neural Circuits. 2022; 16:911023.

PMID: 35664458 PMC: 9158562. DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.911023.

Live imaging of retinotectal mapping reveals topographic map dynamics and a previously undescribed role for Contactin 2 in map sharpening.

Spead O, Weaver C, Moreland T, Poulain F Development. 2021; 148(22).

PMID: 34698769 PMC: 8645211. DOI: 10.1242/dev.199584.

Wiring subcortical image-forming centers: Topography, laminar targeting, and map alignment.

Johnson K, Triplett J Curr Top Dev Biol. 2021; 142:283-317.

PMID: 33706920 PMC: 9116472. DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.10.004.

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