Wnt5a controls neurite development in olfactory bulb interneurons

ASN Neuro. 2011 Jun 2;3(3):e00059. doi: 10.1042/AN20100038.

Abstract

Neurons born in the postnatal SVZ (subventricular zone) must migrate a great distance before becoming mature interneurons of the OB (olfactory bulb). During migration immature OB neurons maintain an immature morphology until they reach their destination. While the morphological development of these cells must be tightly regulated, the cellular pathways responsible are still largely unknown. Our results show that the non-canonical Wnt pathway induced by Wnt5a is important for the morphological development of OB interneurons both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we demonstrate that non-canonical Wnt signalling works in opposition to canonical Wnt signalling in neural precursors from the SVZ in vitro. This represents a novel role for Wnt5a in the development of OB interneurons and suggests that canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways dynamically oppose each other in the regulation of dendrite maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Interneurons / cytology*
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / physiology
  • Neurites / physiology*
  • Neurites / ultrastructure
  • Olfactory Bulb / cytology*
  • Olfactory Bulb / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt-5a Protein

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt-5a Protein
  • Wnt5a protein, mouse