Abstract
Target field innervation in the developing vertebrate nervous system coincides with the onset of important trophic interactions1. Two factors that determine the timing of this event are the distance axons have to grow to reach their targets, which are known to vary, and the rate at which they grow. There have been few studies of axonal growth rate at this stage of development2–4 and no comparative study of the relationship between growth rate and target distance. Embryonic chick cranial sensory neurons are located in discrete ganglia and the distance axons have to grow to reach their targets is different for each ganglion, ranging from several hundred to several thousand μm. Here, I show that these neurons differ in their in vivo growth rates; neurons with more distant targets growing faster. In vitro, single isolated neurons from each of these populations grow at a similar rate to that observed in vivo, indicating that growth rate is an intrinsically determined property of neurons before they reach their targets.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Davies, A. M., Bandtlow, C., Heuman, R., Korsching, S., Rohrer, H. & Thoenen, H. Nature 326, 353–358 (1987).
Speidel, C. C. Havey Lect. 36, 126–158 (1941).
Jacobson, M. & Huang, S. Devl Biol. 110, 102–113 (1985).
Davies, A. M. Development 100, 307–311 (1987).
D'Amico-Martel, A. Am. J. Anat. 163, 351–372 (1982).
D'Amico-Martel, A. & Noden, D. M. Am. J. Anat. 166, 445–468 (1983).
Davies, A. M. Trends Genet. 4, 139–143 (1988).
Ernsberger, U. & Rohrer, H. Devl Biol. 126, 420–432 (1988).
Davies, A. M., Thoenen, H. & Barde, Y. A. J. Neurosci. 6, 1897–1904 (1986).
Hughes, A. J. Anat. 87, 150–161 (1953).
Nakai, J. Am. J. Anat. 99, 81–130 (1956).
Bray, D. J. Cell Biol. 56, 702–712 (1973).
Letourneau, P. Devl Biol. 44, 77–91 (1975).
Lewis, J. H. Zoon. 6, 175–179 (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davies, A. Intrinsic differences in the growth rate of early nerve fibres related to target distance. Nature 337, 553–555 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/337553a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/337553a0
This article is cited by
-
Positional differences of axon growth rates between sensory neurons encoded by runx3
The EMBO Journal (2012)
-
Selective regulation of nerve growth factor expression in developing cutaneous tissue by early sensory innervation
Neural Development (2011)
-
Factors influencing the regeneration of axons in the central nervous system
Spinal Cord (1991)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.