Abstract
In the ciliary ganglion of adult rabbits, ganglion cells lacking dendrites are generally innervated by a single axon, whereas cells with one or more dendrites are innervated by a number of different axons that increases in proportion to the complexity of their dendritic arbor1 (see also refs 2–4). We have now explored the basis of this correlation by comparing the dendritic arborizations of cells receiving different numbers of axons during and after the period of synapse elimination that occurs early in postnatal life5 (see also ref. 6). Our results suggest that the geometry of neonatal neurones influences the competitive interaction between the several axons that initially innervate the same cell. This finding in turn implies that an important function of dendrites is to regulate the number of different axons that ultimately innervate each neurone.
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
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Purves, D. & Hume, R. I. J. Neurosci. 1, 441–452 (1981).
Lichtman, J. W. J. Physiol., Lond. 273, 155–177 (1977).
Lichtman, J. W. & Purves, D. J. Physiol., Lond. 301, 213–228 (1980).
Lichtman, J. W. & Purves, D. in Development in the Nervous System (eds Garrod, D. R. & Feldman, J. D.) (Cambridge University Press, in the press).
Johnson, D. A. & Purves, D. J. Physiol., Lond. (in the press).
Purves, D. & Lichtman, J. W. Science 210, 153–157 (1980).
Hanker, J. S., Yates, P. E., Metz, C. B. & Rustioni, A. Histochem. J. 9, 789–792 (1977).
Wann, D. F., Woolsey, T. A., Dierker, M. L. & Cowan, W. M. IEEE Trans. biomed. Engng 20, 233–247 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hume, R., Purves, D. Geometry of neonatal neurones and the regulation of synapse elimination. Nature 293, 469–471 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/293469a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/293469a0
This article is cited by
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.
