Semaphorin 3F is a bifunctional guidance cue for dopaminergic axons and controls their fasciculation, channeling, rostral growth, and intracortical targeting.
Dopaminergic neurons in the mesodiencephalon (mdDA neurons) make precise synaptic connections with targets in the forebrain via the mesostriatal, mesolimbic, and mesoprefrontal pathways. Because of the functional importance of these remarkably complex ascending axon pathways and their implication in human disease, the mechanisms underlying the development of these connections are of considerable interest. Despite extensive in vitro studies, the molecular determinants that ensure the perfect formation of these pathways in vivo remain mostly unknown. Here, we determine the embryonic origin and ontogeny of the mouse mesoprefrontal pathway and use these data to reveal an unexpected requirement for semaphorin 3F (Sema3F) and its receptor neuropilin-2 (Npn-2) during mdDA pathway development using tissue culture approaches and analysis of sema3F(-/-), npn-2(-/-), and npn-2(-/-);TH-Cre mice. We show that Sema3F is a bifunctional guidance cue for mdDA axons, some of which have the remarkable ability to regulate their responsiveness to Sema3F as they develop. During early developmental stages, Sema3F chemorepulsion controls previously uncharacterized aspects of mdDA pathway development through both Npn-2-dependent (axon fasciculation and channeling) and Npn-2-independent (rostral growth) mechanisms. Later on, chemoattraction mediated by Sema3F and Npn-2 is required to orient mdDA axon projections in the cortical plate of the medial prefrontal cortex. This latter finding demonstrates that regulation of axon orientation in the target field occurs by chemoattractive mechanisms, and this is likely to also apply to other neural systems. In all, this study provides a framework for additional dissection of the molecular basis of mdDA pathway development and disease.
Kolk
Sharon M
SM
Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands. S.Kolk@ncmls.ru.nl
Gunput
Rou-Afza F
RA
Tran
Tracy S
TS
van den Heuvel
Dianne M A
DM
Prasad
Asheeta A
AA
Hellemons
Anita J C G M
AJ
Adolfs
Youri
Y
Ginty
David D
DD
Kolodkin
Alex L
AL
Burbach
J Peter H
JP
Smidt
Marten P
MP
Pasterkamp
R Jeroen
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000196:embryology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D039943:Neuropilin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000196:embryology*; D021381:Protein Transport; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D039943:Neuropilin-2; C491229:Sema3f protein, mouse; D004298:Dopamine