Axonal Branching and Growth Cone Structure Depend on Target Cells

1993 ◽  
Vol 159 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A. Berman ◽  
D. Moss ◽  
S. Bursztajn
1993 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 935-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
T P O'Connor ◽  
D Bentley

Directed outgrowth of neural processes must involve transmission of signals from the tips of filopodia to the central region of the growth cone. Here, we report on the distribution and dynamics of one possible element in this process, actin, in live growth cones which are reorienting in response to in situ guidance cues. In grasshopper embryonic limbs, pioneer growth cones respond to at least three types of guidance cues: a limb axis cue, intermediate target cells, and a circumferential band of epithelial cells. With time-lapse imaging of intracellularly injected rhodamine-phalloidin and rhodamine-actin, we monitored the distribution of actin during growth cone responses to these cues. In distal limb regions, accumulation of actin in filopodia and growth cone branches accompanies continued growth, while reduction of actin accompanies withdrawal. Where growth cones are reorienting to intermediate target cells, or along the circumferential epithelial band, actin selectively accumulates in the proximal regions of those filopodia that have contacted target cells or are extending along the band. Actin accumulations can be retrogradely transported along filopodia, and can extend into the central region of the growth cone. These results suggest that regulation and translocation of actin may be a significant element in growth cone steering.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravine A. Gungabissoon ◽  
James R. Bamburg

Nervous system development is reliant on neuronal pathfinding, the process in which axons are guided to their target cells by specific extracellular cues. The ability of neurons to extend over long distances in response to environmental guidance signals is made possible by the growth cone, a highly motile structure found at the end of neuronal processes. Growth cones detect directional cues and respond with either attractive or repulsive movements. The motility of growth cones is dependent on rapid reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, presumably mediated by actin-associated proteins under the control of incoming guidance signals. This article reviews how one such family of proteins, the ADF/cofilins, are emerging as key regulators of growth cone actin dynamics. These proteins are essential for rapid actin turnover in a variety of different cell types. ADF/cofilins are heavily co-localized with actin in growth cones and are necessary for neurite outgrowth. ADF/cofilin activities are regulated through reversible phosphorylation by LIM kinases and slingshot phosphatases. LIM kinases are downstream effectors of the Rho GTPases Rho, Rac, and Cdc42. Growing evidence suggests that extracellular guidance cues may locally alter actin dynamics by regulating the activity of LIM kinase and ADF/cofilin phosphatases via the Rho GTPases. In this way, ADF/cofilins and their upstream effectors may be pivotal to our understanding of how guidance information is translated into physical alterations of the growth cone actin cytoskeleton.


2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (14) ◽  
pp. 3033-3042 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Grider ◽  
D. Park ◽  
D.M. Spencer ◽  
H.D. Shine

Author(s):  
K. E. Muse ◽  
D. G. Fischer ◽  
H. S. Koren

Mononuclear phagocytes, a pluripotential cell line, manifest an array of basic extracellular functions. Among these physiological regulatory functions is the expression of spontaneous cytolytic potential against tumor cell targets.The limited observations on human cells, almost exclusively blood monocytes, initially reported limited or a lack of tumoricidal activity in the absence of antibody. More recently, freshly obtained monocytes have been reported to spontaneously impair the biability of tumor target cells in vitro (Harowitz et al., 1979; Montavani et al., 1979; Hammerstrom, 1979). Although the mechanism by which effector cells express cytotoxicity is poorly understood, discrete steps can be distinguished in the process of cell mediated cytotoxicity: recognition and binding of effector to target cells,a lethal-hit stage, and subsequent lysis of the target cell. Other important parameters in monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity include, activated state of the monocyte, effector cell concentrations, and target cell suseptibility. However, limited information is available with regard to the ultrastructural changes accompanying monocyte-mediated cytotoxicity.


Author(s):  
Venita F. Allison

In 1930, Moore, Hughes and Gallager reported that after castration seminal vesicle epithelial cell atrophy occurred and that cell regeneration could be achieved with daily injections of testis extract. Electron microscopic studies have confirmed those observations and have shown that testosterone injections restore the epithelium of the seminal vesicle in adult castrated male rats. Studies concerned with the metabolism of androgens point out that dihydrotestosterone stimulates cell proliferation and that other metabolites of testosterone probably influence secretory function in certain target cells.Although the influence of androgens on adult seminal vesicle epithelial cytology is well documented, little is known of the effect of androgen depletion and replacement on those cells in aging animals. The present study is concerned with the effect of castration and testosterone injection on the epithelium of the seminal vesicle of aging rats.


Author(s):  
A. LeFurgey ◽  
P. Ingram ◽  
L.J. Mandel

For quantitative determination of subcellular Ca distribution by electron probe x-ray microanalysis, decreasing (and/or eliminating) the K content of the cell maximizes the ability to accurately separate the overlapping K Kß and Ca Kα peaks in the x-ray spectra. For example, rubidium has been effectively substituted for potassium in smooth muscle cells, thus giving an improvement in calcium measurements. Ouabain, a cardiac glycoside widely used in experimental and clinical applications, inhibits Na-K ATPase at the cell membrane and thus alters the cytoplasmic ion (Na,K) content of target cells. In epithelial cells primarily involved in active transport, such as the proximal tubule of the rabbit kidney, ouabain rapidly (t1/2= 2 mins) causes a decrease2 in intracellular K, but does not change intracellular total or free Ca for up to 30 mins. In the present study we have taken advantage of this effect of ouabain to determine the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic Ca content in freeze-dried cryosections of kidney proximal tubule by electron probe x-ray microanalysis.


Author(s):  
Oktay Arda ◽  
Ulkü Noyan ◽  
Selgçk Yilmaz ◽  
Mustafa Taşyürekli ◽  
İsmail Seçkin ◽  
...  

Turkish dermatologist, H. Beheet described the disease as recurrent triad of iritis, oral aphthous lesions and genital ulceration. Auto immune disease is the recent focus on the unknown etiology which is still being discussed. Among the other immunosupressive drugs, CyA included in it's treatment newly. One of the important side effects of this drug is gingival hyperplasia which has a direct relation with the presence of teeth and periodontal tissue. We are interested in the ultrastructure of immunocompetent target cells that were affected by CyA in BD.Three groups arranged in each having 5 patients with BD. Control group was the first and didn’t have CyA treatment. Patients who had CyA, but didn’t show gingival hyperplasia assembled the second group. The ones displaying gingival hyperplasia following CyA therapy formed the third group. GMC of control group and their granules are shown in FIG. 1,2,3. GMC of the second group presented initiation of supplementary cellular activity and possible maturing functional changes with the signs of increased number of mitochondria and accumulation of numerous dense cored granules next to few normal ones, FIG. 4,5,6.


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