2000 Segal and Andersen 2000 Cline 2001 Shi et al. 1998 Engert and Bonhoeffer 1999 Maletic-Savatic et al. Undergo rapid changes within minutes in response to physiological stimuli ( Mantyh et al. Further, dendritic morphology and the distribution of signaling molecules in dendrites are highly plastic. Subregions such as dendritic spines and signaling molecules such as transmitter receptors and ion channels localized to disinctĭomains. The problem of dendritic morphogenesis goes beyond the branching pattern, because on any given branch there are distinct Simpler morphology (for review, see Hogan 1999).

Such as trachea or blood vessels, for those tubular structures are formed by the collaboration of multiple cells, each with To have some unique features and differ substantially from those regulating the formation of other highly branched structures

The cellular mechanisms controlling the formation of these elaborate cellular structures are likely For example, a Purkinje cell in the cerebellum can elaborate remarkably complex yet In this review, we will first consider the functional implications of dendritic branching patterns and then discuss dendriteįormation and possible commonality between dendrite development and synaptic plasticity.įrom the cell biological point of view, the elaborate and stereotyped dendritic branching of a neuron is a striking example Input received by a neuron ( Stuart et al. The dendriticīranching pattern varies to a great extent with the neuronal type, and is an important determinant of the synaptic or sensory Regardless of whether they receive sensory or synaptic input, the dendrites are the antennae of the neurons. These sensory stimuli induce receptor potentials in the dendrite, analogous to the synaptic potentials generatedĪt the synapse ( Hille 2001). Of many sensory neurons are sensory endings that transduce signals from the external environment, such as mechanical or chemical It is worth noting that not all dendrites receive synaptic input. Most likely, synapse formation involves two-way communications between the presynapticĬell and the postsynaptic cell. Just passive participants in this process. To make synapses with the correct targets, which are usually the dendrites of the postsynaptic neurons. The axon of a presynaptic neuron needs to be properly guided Synapse formation involves two partners, axons and dendrites. San Francisco, California 94143-0725, USA

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of Physiology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco,.

Axon to dendrite connectivity