title: Optical neuronal guidance.
abstract: We present a novel technique to noninvasively control the growth and turning behavior of an extending neurite. A highly focused infrared laser, positioned at the leading edge of a neurite, has been found to induce extension/turning toward the beam's center. This technique has been used successfully to guide NG108-15 and PC12 cell lines [Ehrlicher, A., Betz, T., Stuhrmann, B., Koch, D. Milner, V. Raizen, M. G., and Kas, J. (2002). Guiding neuronal growth with light. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99, 16024-16028], as well as primary rat and mouse cortical neurons [Stuhrmann, B., Goegler, M., Betz, T., Ehrlicher, A., Koch, D., and Kas, J. (2005). Automated tracking and laser micromanipulation of cells. Rev. Sci. Instr. 76, 035105]. Optical guidance may eventually be used alone or with other methods for controlling neurite extension in both research and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für die Physik Weicher Materie, Fakultät für Physik und Geowissenschaften, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstr. 5, Leipzig D-04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehrlicher
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Betz
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuhrmann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gögler
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franze
authors.forename: Yunbi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Käs
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D007834:Lasers; D051379:Mice; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000199:Actins