Growth and pathfinding of regenerating axons in the optic projection of adult fish

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Catherina G. Becker - , University of Edinburgh (Author)
  • Thomas Becker - , University of Edinburgh (Author)

Abstract

In contrast to mammals, teleost fish are able to regrow severed long-range projection axons in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to recovery of function. The optic projection in teleost fish is used to study neuron-intrinsic and environmental molecular factors that determine successful axon regrowth and navigation through a complex CNS pathway back to original targets. Here we review evidence for regeneration-specific regulation and robust expression of growth- and pathfinding-associated genes in regenerating retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons of adult fish. The environment of the CNS in fish appears to contain few inhibitory molecules and at the same time a number of promoting molecules for axon regrowth. Finally, some environmental cues that are used as guidance cues for developing RGC axons are also present in continuously growing adult animals. These molecules may serve as guidance cues for the precise navigation of axons from newly generated RGCs in adult animals as well as of regenerating RGC axons after a lesion. The application of new molecular techniques especially to adult zebrafish, is likely to produce new insights into successful axonal regeneration in the CNS of fish and the absence thereof in mammals.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2793-2799
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of neuroscience research
Volume85
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2007
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 17131420

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Axon regrowth, Optic projection, Retinal ganglion cell

Library keywords