Topographic Maps: Motor Axons Wait Their Turn

D’Elia, Kristen P.; Dasen, Jeremy S.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2017.11.047

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…During the last century, specific properties of a given sensory map and basic rules how to form them, such as the chemoaffinity theory 27 and activity-mediated synaptic plasticity theory 28, 29 , have been worked out for some primary maps. Understanding the molecular cues that guide primary map development, the plasticity of primary map development mediated by activity to sharpen the map in neonates and adults 30– 33 , and the translation of primary sensory afferent map formation into cortical and midbrain maps for multisensory integration 2, 6, 34, 35 will be the defining achievements of the 21st century. Toward this end, we provide here an overview of various primary sensory maps of mammals, characterized by continuous and discrete map properties 33 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary sensory map formations reflect unique needs and molecular cues specific to each sensory system

2019

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Interaction with the world around us requires extracting meaningful signals to guide behavior. Each of the six mammalian senses (olfaction, vision, somatosensation, hearing, balance, and taste) has a unique primary map that extracts sense-specific information. Sensory systems in the periphery and their target neurons in the central nervous system develop independently and must develop specific connections for proper sensory processing. In addition, the regulation of sensory map formation is independent of and prior to central target neuronal development in several maps. This review provides an overview of the current level of understanding of primary map formation of the six mammalian senses. Cell cycle exit, combined with incompletely understood molecules and their regulation, provides chemoaffinity-mediated primary maps that are further refined by activity. The interplay between cell cycle exit, molecular guidance, and activity-mediated refinement is the basis of dominance stripes after redundant organ transplantations in the visual and balance system. A more advanced level of understanding of primary map formation could benefit ongoing restoration attempts of impaired senses by guiding proper functional connection formations of restored sensory organs with their central nervous system targets.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Primary sensory map formations reflect unique needs and molecular cues specific to each sensory system

2019

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“…Recent new discoveries raise the possibility that other mechanisms are also in action during the establishment of the corticopontine maps. Several lines of evidence suggest a functional role of graded gene expression during topography of sensory maps in several systems ( D'Elia and Dasen, 2018 ; Erzurumlu et al, 2010 ; Fritzsch et al, 2019 ; McLaughlin and O'Leary, 2005 ), but whether this process is also operative during establishment of corticopontine topography is not understood. A recent study has shown that postmitotic graded expression of the HOX gene Hoxa5 is directly involved in imparting an anterior-to-posterior identity to pontine neurons and in attracting corticopontine axons ( Maheshwari et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The topography of corticopontine projections is controlled by postmitotic expression of the area-mapping gene Nr2f1

et al. 2022

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Axonal projections from layer V neurons of distinct neocortical areas are topographically organized into discrete clusters within the pontine nuclei during the establishment of voluntary movements. However, the molecular determinants controlling corticopontine connectivity are insufficiently understood. Here, we show that an intrinsic cortical genetic program driven by Nr2f1 graded expression is directly implicated in the organization of corticopontine topographic mapping. Transgenic mice lacking cortical expression of Nr2f1 and exhibiting areal organization defects were used as model systems to investigate the arrangement of corticopontine projections. By combining three-dimensional digital brain atlas tools, Cre-dependent mouse lines and axonal tracing, we show that Nr2f1 expression in postmitotic neurons spatially and temporally controls somatosensory topographic projections, whereas expression in progenitor cells influences the ratio between corticopontine and corticospinal fibres passing the pontine nuclei. We conclude that cortical gradients of area-patterning genes are directly implicated in the establishment of a topographic somatotopic mapping from the cortex onto pontine nuclei.

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“…Recent new discoveries open the possibility that other mechanisms are also in action during the establishment of the corticopontine maps. Several lines of evidence point to a functional role of gradients in gene expression during topography of sensory maps in several systems (D’Elia and Dasen, 2018, Erzurumlu et al, 2010, Fritzsch et al, 2019, McLaughlin and O’Leary, 2005), but whether this process is also operative during establishment of corticopontine topography is not completely understood. A recent study has shown that postmitotic graded expression of the HOX gene Hoxa5 is directly involved in imparting an anterior to posterior identity to pontine neurons, (Maheshwari et al, 2020), suggesting that pontine nuclei could play an instructive and attractive role in establishing corticopontine topographical organization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topography of corticopontine projections is controlled by postmitotic expression of the area-mapping gene Nr2f1

Tocco

Øvsthus

Bjaalie

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Axonal projections from layer V neurons of distinct neocortical areas are topographically organized into discrete clusters within the pontine nuclei during the establishment of voluntary movements. However, the molecular determinants controlling corticopontine connectivity are insufficiently understood. Here, we show that an intrinsic cortical genetic program driven by Nr2f1 graded expression in cortical progenitors and postmitotic neurons is directly implicated in the organization of corticopontine topographic mapping. Transgenic mice lacking cortical expression of Nr2f1 and exhibiting areal organization defects were used as model systems to investigate the arrangement of corticopontine projections. Combining three-dimensional digital brain atlas tools, Cre-dependent mouse lines, and axonal tracing, we show that Nr2f1 expression in postmitotic neurons spatially and temporally controls somatosensory topographic projections, whereas expression in progenitor cells influences the ratio between corticopontine and corticospinal fibers passing the pontine nuclei. We conclude that cortical gradients of area patterning genes are directly implicated in the establishment of a topographic somatotopic mapping from the cortex onto pontine nuclei.

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Topographic Maps: Motor Axons Wait Their Turn

Abstract: Topographic maps are a basic organizational feature of nervous systems, and their construction involves both spatial and temporal cues. A recent study reports a novel mechanism of topographic map formation which relies on the timing of axon initiation.

Cited by 3 publications

References 18 publications

Primary sensory map formations reflect unique needs and molecular cues specific to each sensory system

Primary sensory map formations reflect unique needs and molecular cues specific to each sensory system

The topography of corticopontine projections is controlled by postmitotic expression of the area-mapping gene Nr2f1

Topography of corticopontine projections is controlled by postmitotic expression of the area-mapping gene Nr2f1

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