Document Type
Article
Publication Date
January 2002
Journal Title
Development
Volume
129
Abstract
Neural maps in the vertebrate central nervous system often show discontinuously segregated, domain-to-domain patterns. However, the molecular mechanism that establishes such maps is not well understood. Here we show that in the chicken olivocerebellar system, EphA receptors and ephrin-As are expressed with distinct levels and combinations in mapping domains. When ephrin-A2 is retrovirally overexpressed in the cerebellum, the olivocerebellar map is disrupted, excluding axons with high receptor activity from ectopic expression domains. Conversely, overexpression of a truncated EphA3 receptor in the cerebellum reduces endogenous ligand activity to undetectable levels and causes aberrant mapping, with high receptor axons invading high ligand domains. In vitro,ephrin-A2 inhibits outgrowth of inferior olive axons in a region-specific manner. These results suggest that Eph receptors and ephrins constitute domain-specific positional information, and the spatially accurate receptor-ligandinteraction is essential to guide inferior olive axons to their correct target domains.
Recommended Citation
Nishida, Kazuhiko; Flanagan, John; and Nakamoto, Masaru, "Domain-specific olivocerebellar projection regulated by the EphA-ephrin-A interaction" (2002). Biology Faculty Publications. 43.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/bio_fac_pub/43
Included in
Cell and Developmental Biology Commons, Developmental Neuroscience Commons, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons
