QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (28) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gnuegge, L. Articles by Neuhauss, S. C. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gnuegge, L. Articles by Neuhauss, S. C. F.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, May 15, 2001, 21(10):3542-3548

Analysis of the Activity-Deprived Zebrafish Mutant macho Reveals an Essential Requirement of Neuronal Activity for the Development of a Fine-Grained Visuotopic Map

Lara Gnuegge¹, Susanne Schmid², and Stephan C. F. Neuhauss¹

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, 72076 Tübingen, Germany, and ² Zoologisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany

The formation of a retinotopic map is thought to involve an activity-independent molecular phase for early steps of both axon pathfinding and projection and a later phase in which cross talk between retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and tectal neurons modifies and refines the neuronal connections. We report that the maturation of the retinotopic map in the zebrafish tectum involves activity-dependent processes. Zebrafish larvae mutant for the gene macho (mao) lack neuronal activity in RGCs and also display an enlarged retinotectal projection field but no significant increase in single axon length. This morphological defect can be phenocopied by raising larvae under TTX-induced neural impulse blockade. The effect of activity deprivation is dependent on the developmental stage. The projection phenotype in mao as well as in the TTX-treated larvae develops between 4 and 6 d post-fertilization (dpf), after complete tectal coverage is first achieved. Electrophysiological recordings of RGCs in wild-type and mao zebrafish larvae reveal a temporally regulated reduction of sodium current in the mutant between 5 and 6 dpf. This coincides with the time of the axonal projection shifting on the tectum to compensate for the disparate growth patterns of the retina and the tectum. Our genetic and physiological analyses suggest a model in which neuronal activity in RGCs is needed for the establishment of morphological plasticity.

Key words: visual system; retinotectal projection; sodium currents; zebrafish; axon guidance; plasticity; Danio rerio; retinal ganglion cell; TTX

---

Copyright © 2001 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/01/21103542-07$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Crisp, J. F. Evers, A. Fiala, and M. Bate The development of motor coordination in Drosophila embryos Development, November 15, 2008; 135(22): 3707 - 3717. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Willshaw Analysis of mouse EphA knockins and knockouts suggests that retinal axons programme target cells to form ordered retinotopic maps Development, July 15, 2006; 133(14): 2705 - 2717. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Mrsic-Flogel, S. B. Hofer, C. Creutzfeldt, I. Cloez-Tayarani, J.-P. Changeux, T. Bonhoeffer, and M. Hubener Altered Map of Visual Space in the Superior Colliculus of Mice Lacking Early Retinal Waves J. Neurosci., July 20, 2005; 25(29): 6921 - 6928. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. J. Moody and M. M. Bosma Ion Channel Development, Spontaneous Activity, and Activity-Dependent Development in Nerve and Muscle Cells Physiol Rev, July 1, 2005; 85(3): 883 - 941. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Pineda, R. A. Heiser, and A. B. Ribera Developmental, Molecular, and Genetic Dissection of INa In Vivo in Embryonic Zebrafish Sensory Neurons J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2005; 93(6): 3582 - 3593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. S. Ruthazer, C. J. Akerman, and H. T. Cline Control of Axon Branch Dynamics by Correlated Activity in Vivo Science, July 4, 2003; 301(5629): 66 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Roeser and H. Baier Visuomotor Behaviors in Larval Zebrafish after GFP-Guided Laser Ablation of the Optic Tectum J. Neurosci., May 1, 2003; 23(9): 3726 - 3734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Tokuoka, T. Yoshida, N. Matsuda, and M. Mishina Regulation by Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta of the Arborization Field and Maturation of Retinotectal Projection in Zebrafish J. Neurosci., December 1, 2002; 22(23): 10324 - 10332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Cohen-Cory The Developing Synapse: Construction and Modulation of Synaptic Structures and Circuits Science, October 25, 2002; 298(5594): 770 - 776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help