title: Dendrite growth increased by visual activity requires NMDA receptor and Rho GTPases.
abstract: Previous studies suggest that neuronal activity may guide the development of synaptic connections in the central nervous system through mechanisms involving glutamate receptors and GTPase-dependent modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Here we demonstrate by in vivo time-lapse imaging of optic tectal cells in Xenopus laevis tadpoles that enhanced visual activity driven by a light stimulus promotes dendritic arbor growth. The stimulus-induced dendritic arbor growth requires glutamate-receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, decreased RhoA activity and increased Rac and Cdc42 activity. The results delineate a role for Rho GTPases in the structural plasticity driven by visual stimulation in vivo.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D020764:cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein; D020744:rac GTP-Binding Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins