Naturally-occurring neuron death in the ciliary ganglion of the chick embryo following removal of preganglionic input: evidence for the role of afferents in ganglion cell survival

AbstractThe influence of postnatal neuronal activity on the magnitude of retinal ganglion cell death has been studied in cats. A constant blockade of activity in one eye starting just after birth does not change the severity of naturally occurring ganglion cell death, and as in normal animals, the ganglion cell population declines from 250,000 to 160,000 over a 4- to 6-week period. However, the population of retinal ganglion cells in the active untreated eye of monocularly deprived cats is increased 12% above normal (180,000 vs. 160,000 in each of four cases). This increase of 20,000 cells is permanent, and presumably reflects the competitive advantage in their target nuclei that the still active axons have over their silenced companions from the treated eye. Surprisingly, in one animal treated successfully for long duration with TTX in both eyes, the population of ganglion cells was elevated in both eyes (200,000 and 208,000 ganglion cells). This increase matches that achieved by early unilateral enucleation (Williams et al., 1983). Our results demonstrate that the complete blockade of activity reduces the severity of naturally occurring cell death in a population of CNS sensory neurons. The effects of unilateral blockade emphasize that the activity-dependent modulation of neuron death only occurs under conditions that do not place the inactive population of neurons at a competitive disadvantage.

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Naturally occurring and induced neuronal death in the chick embryo in vivo requires protein and RNA synthesis: Evidence for the role of cell death genes

Developmental Biology ◽

10.1016/0012-1606(90)90180-q ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 138 (1) ◽

pp. 104-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 233

Author(s):

Ronald W. Oppenheim ◽

David Prevette ◽

Michael Tytell ◽

Shunsaku Homma

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Chick Embryo ◽

Neuronal Death ◽

Rna Synthesis ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Protein And Rna Synthesis ◽

Cell Death Genes ◽

Death Genes

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Scanning electron microscopic study of collagen fibrillogenesis and extracellular compartmentalization in the chick embryo tendon

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100142669 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 208-209

Author(s):

Grace C.H. Yang

Keyword(s):

Chick Embryo ◽

Extracellular Space ◽

Fibroblast Cell ◽

Collagen Fibrils ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopic Study ◽

Microscopic Studies ◽

And Function

The size and organization of collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix is an important determinant of tissue structure and function. The synthesis and deposition of collagen involves multiple steps which begin within the cell and continue in the extracellular space. High-voltage electron microscopic studies of the chick embryo cornea and tendon suggested that the extracellular space is compartmentalized by the fibroblasts for the regulation of collagen fibril, bundle, and tissue specific macroaggregate formation. The purpose of this study is to gather direct evidence regarding the association of the fibroblast cell surface with newly formed collagen fibrils, and to define the role of the fibroblast in the control and the precise positioning of collagen fibrils, bundles, and macroaggregates during chick tendon development.

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Fine structure and properties of defects in naturally occurring silicates and oxides

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100175430 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 460-461

Author(s):

David R. Veblen

Keyword(s):

Chemical Reactions ◽

High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽

Extended Defects ◽

Single Chain ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Resolution Electron ◽

Fine Structures ◽

Image Simulations ◽

Similar Crystal Structure

Extended defects and interfaces control many processes in rock-forming minerals, from chemical reactions to rock deformation. In many cases, it is not the average structure of a defect or interface that is most important, but rather the structure of defect terminations or offsets in an interface. One of the major thrusts of high-resolution electron microscopy in the earth sciences has been to identify the role of defect fine structures in reactions and to determine the structures of such features. This paper will review studies using HREM and image simulations to determine the structures of defects in silicate and oxide minerals and present several examples of the role of defects in mineral chemical reactions. In some cases, the geological occurrence can be used to constrain the diffusional properties of defects.The simplest reactions in minerals involve exsolution (precipitation) of one mineral from another with a similar crystal structure, and pyroxenes (single-chain silicates) provide a good example. Although conventional TEM studies have led to a basic understanding of this sort of phase separation in pyroxenes via spinodal decomposition or nucleation and growth, HREM has provided a much more detailed appreciation of the processes involved.

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