title: Dendrites contain a spacing pattern.
abstract: The distinctive branching patterns of dendritic arbors are essential for neuronal information processing. The final shape of an arbor is the result of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. However, the cellular mechanisms that underlie branch patterning are unknown. In many biological systems, locally acting factors are intrinsically organized into spacing patterns that guide patterned morphogenesis. Here, we show that neurons contain two types of periodic and regular elements (PADREN1s and PADREN2s) that are arranged into a spacing pattern. The wavelength of the pattern is approximately 20 microm. Dendritic branches occur preferentially within PADREN1s, and specific PADREN lengths correspond to specific arbor types. The lengths of the PADRENs also change over time and can be modified by activity. However, PADRENs are intrinsically organized, possibly by a reaction-diffusion process. PADRENs reveal a previously unrecognized level of neuronal organization that may provide insight into how the distinct branching patterns of the dendrites are intrinsically organized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. aaron_taylor@brown.edu
authors.forename: Aaron B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fallon
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004058:Diffusion; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009024:Morphogenesis; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; C489787:MAP2 protein, rat; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; C056639:2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid; D014633:Valine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D015739:Nocodazole