Neuroscience 2004 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 834.7 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Three-dimensional decision-making by growth cones during substratum-guided axon growth. |
| Authors: |
Li, N.*1
; Folch, A.1
1Dept. of Bioengineering, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Development - Axonal and Dendritic Development -- Axon growth and guidance: extracellular signals |
| Session: |
834. Axon Guidance IV Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, October 27, 2004 10:00 AM-11:00 AM |
| Location: | San Diego Convention Center - Hall A-H, Board # D1 |
| Keywords: | PDMS, Matrigel, contact cues |
To establish the intricate neuronal network with necessary precision and reliability, one essential process is that neurons must correctly project their axons to their synaptic targets during embryonic development. In vivo, axonal tips (“growth cones”) navigate through a three-dimensional (3-D) environment, and the factors that can steer growth cones include ECM adhesion molecules, topographic features of the environment, and soluble chemotropic molecules. However, in most in vitro studies, neurons were confined on a uniform two-dimensional substrate, hence it was difficult to investigate the integration process in the presence of multiple contact cues. We have studied the growth cone 3-D navigation and axon decision-making using structured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates combined with Matrigel. PDMS substrates with grooves/wells of various width and depth were fabricated by standard photolithography and soft lithography procedures, then coated with poly-D-lysine or laminin. Murine embryonic cortical neurons were plated onto these substrates either directly from cell-containing medium or from cell-containing Matrigel. Without Matrigel, surface topographical features could guide axon growth, depending on the depth and width of the features. For example, with 50-micron deep 200-micron diameter wells, neurons on the bottom of the wells restricted their neurites inside the wells, and neurons on the top surface of the PDMS restricted their neurites on the top. But when the wells were 5-micron deep, neurons extended axons freely in and out of the wells despite the surface topography. However, in the presence of Matrigel, even with 50-micron deep features, neurons attached on the top surface of PDMS could grow axons through Matrigel, across the grooves/wells, and extended freely in 3-D. We conclude that axon growth cones are capable of navigating in 3-D, and integrating both topographical and adhesive cues for decision making.
Supported by NIH grant to A. Folch.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2004 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.
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