IMBICE   05372
INSTITUTO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO DE BIOLOGIA CELULAR
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Key roles of Ephs and ephrins in retinotectal topographic map formation
Autor/es:
GABRIEL SCICOLONE; ANA LAURA ORTALLI; NÉSTOR GABRIEL CARRI
Revista:
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
Editorial:
Elsevier
Referencias:
Lugar: Ansterdam, Holanda; Año: 2009 p. 1 - 21
ISSN:
0361-9230
Resumen:
Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of topographic ordered connections in the central nervous system (CNS) constitute a key issue in neurobiology because neural connectivities are the base of the CNS normal function. We discuss the roles of the Eph/ephrin system in the establishment of retinotopic projections onto the tectum/colliculus, the most detailed studied model of  retina and the tectum/colliculus, label the local addresses on the target and give specific sensitivities to growth cones according to their topographic origin in the retina. We postulate that the highest levels of these gradients could signal both the entry as well as the limiting boundaries of the target. Since Ephs and ephrins are membrane-bound molecules, theymay function as both receptors and ligands producing repulsive or attractant responses according to their microenvironment and play central roles in a variety of developmental events such as axon guidance, synapse formation and remodeling. Due to different experimental approaches and the inherent species-specific differences, some results appear contradictory and should be reanalyzed. Nevertheless, these studies about the roles of the Eph/ephrin system in retinotectal/collicular mapping support general principles in order to understand CNS development and could be useful to design regeneration therapies. © 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.