Neuronal cadherin (NCAD) increases sensory neurite formation and outgrowth on astrocytes.
We examined the neurite outgrowth of sensory neurons on astrocytes following the genetic deletion of N-cadherin (NCAD). Deletion abolished immunostaining for NCAD and the other classical cadherins, indicating that NCAD is likely the only classical cadherin expressed by astrocytes. Only 38% of neurons grown on NCAD-deficient astrocytes for 24 h produced neurites, as compared to 74% of neurons grown on NCAD-expressing astrocytes. Of the neurons that produced neurites, those grown on NCAD-deficient astrocytes had a mean total length of 378 μm, as compared to 1093 μm for neurons grown on NCAD-expressing astrocytes. Thus, the loss of NCAD greatly impairs the formation and extension neurites on astrocytes.
Department of Neurology, Temple University and Shriners Pediatric Research Center, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. toby.ferguson@temple.edu
Toby A
TA
Ferguson
Steven S
SS
Scherer
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D015820:Cadherins