The retina is a laminated structure made up of several different cellular subtypes that assemble precise connections between them. This study sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms governing the development of these specific circuits. Transmembrane molecules typically most active as repulsive signals during axonal guidance exhibit specific expression patterns within the retina, allowing for the connectivity between cell types to occur properly. Mutant mice lacking specific isoforms of these semaphorin or plexin molecular families displayed significant defects in the retinal circuitry. Thus, repulsive cues present on the neuronal processes themselves drive proper wiring between lamina within the retina.
- Ryota L. Matsuoka
- Kim T. Nguyen-Ba-Charvet
- Alex L. Kolodkin
