Intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations modulate the rate of neuronal migration.
Transient elevations of intracellular Ca2+ levels play critical roles in neuronal development, but such elevations have not been demonstrated in migrating neurons. Here, we show that the amplitude and frequency components of Ca2+ fluctuations are correlated positively with the rate of granule cell movement in cerebellar microexplant cultures. Moreover, depression of the amplitude and frequency components of Ca2+ fluctuations by blockade of Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane results in a reversible retardation of cell movement. These results indicate that the combination of amplitude and frequency components of intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations may provide an intracellular signal controlling the rate of neuronal cell migration.
Komuro
H
H
Section of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
Rakic
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D002118:Calcium