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Characterizing Semaphorin-Mediated Effects on Sensory and Motor Axon Pathfinding and Connectivity During Embryonic Development

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Semaphorin Signaling

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1493))

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Abstract

How are precise connectivity to peripheral targets and corresponding sensory-motor networks established during developmental innervation of the vertebrate extremities? The formation of functional sensory-motor circuits requires highly appropriate temporal and spatial regulation of axon growth which is achieved through the combination of different molecular mechanisms such as communication between heterotypic fiber systems, axon-environment, or axon-glia interactions that ensure proper fasciculation and accurate pathfinding to distal targets. Family members of the class 3 semaphorins and their cognate receptors, the neuropilins, were shown to govern various events during wiring of central and peripheral circuits, with mice lacking Sema3-Npn signaling showing deficits in timing of growth, selective fasciculation, guidance fidelity, and coupling of sensory axon growth to motor axons at developmental time points. Given the accuracy with which these processes have to interact in a stepwise manner, deficiency of the smallest cog in the wheel may impact severely on the faithful establishment and functionality of peripheral circuitries, ultimately leading to behavioral impairments or even cause the death of the animal. Reliable quantitative analyses of sensory-motor fasciculation, extension, and guidance of axons to their cognate target muscles and the skin during development, but also assessment of physiological and behavioral consequences at adult age, are therefore a necessity to extend our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of peripheral circuit formation. In this chapter we provide a detailed methodology to characterize class 3 semaphorin-mediated effects on peripheral sensory and motor axon pathfinding and connectivity during embryonic development.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Rosa Eva Huettl & Andrea B. Huber

Authors
  1. Rosa Eva Huettl
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  2. Andrea B. Huber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea B. Huber .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Jonathan R. Terman

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Huettl, R.E., Huber, A.B. (2017). Characterizing Semaphorin-Mediated Effects on Sensory and Motor Axon Pathfinding and Connectivity During Embryonic Development. In: Terman, J. (eds) Semaphorin Signaling. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1493. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6448-2_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6448-2_32

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6446-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6448-2

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