Interactions between plexin-A2, plexin-A4, and semaphorin 6A control lamina-restricted projection of hippocampal mossy fibers

Neuron. 2007 Feb 15;53(4):535-47. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.01.028.

Abstract

Hippocampal mossy fibers project preferentially to the stratum lucidum, the proximal-most lamina of the suprapyramidal region of CA3. The molecular mechanisms that govern this lamina-restricted projection are still unknown. We examined the projection pattern of mossy fibers in mutant mice for semaphorin receptors plexin-A2 and plexin-A4, and their ligand, the transmembrane semaphorin Sema6A. We found that plexin-A2 deficiency causes a shift of mossy fibers from the suprapyramidal region to the infra- and intrapyramidal regions, while plexin-A4 deficiency induces inappropriate spreading of mossy fibers within CA3. We also report that the plexin-A2 loss-of-function phenotype is genetically suppressed by Sema6A loss of function. Based on these results, we propose a model for the lamina-restricted projection of mossy fibers: the expression of plexin-A4 on mossy fibers prevents them from entering the Sema6A-expressing suprapyramidal region of CA3 and restricts them to the proximal-most part, where Sema6A repulsive activity is attenuated by plexin-A2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Basement Membrane / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / genetics
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / radiation effects
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / deficiency
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Neurons / radiation effects
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / deficiency
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Semaphorins / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agents
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Plxna2 protein, mouse
  • Plxna4 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Sema6a protein, mouse
  • Semaphorins