Snapshots in Neuroscience: Neurites

This image has been selected to showcase the art that neuroscience research can create.

As described by Dr. Eric Zluhan and colleagues: this image shows MAP2+ (magenta) neurites from cultured immature cortical neurons extending into a stripe of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs; green) treated with chondroitinase ABC (chABC), an enzyme that abolishes CSPGs.

The function of CSPGs in cortical neuronal dendrite growth is unknown. We found that CSPGs inhibit MAP2+ neurites (presumptive dendrites) and this can be reversed by Reelin addition or chABC treatment (shown here). Our work suggests that Reelin and CSPGs coordinate dendrite growth. Cells were immunostained for MAP2 to label dendrites, Hoescht 33342 to label nuclei and Cat-315 to label CSPGs.

Images were collected with a Zeiss LSM780 laser scanning confocal microscope using a Plan-Apochromat 40x/1.4 NA objective.

Read the full article:

Reelin Counteracts Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan-Mediated Cortical Dendrite Growth Inhibition
Eric Zluhan, Joshua Enck, Russell T. Matthews and Eric C. Olson