In vivo imaging of dendritic pruning in dentate granule cells

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 788 - 791
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, J Tiago, Bloyd, Cooper W, Shtrahman, Matthew, Johnston, Stephen T, Schafer, Simon T, Parylak, Sarah L, Tran, Thanh, Chang, Tina, Gage, Fred H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.06.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 38/89; 631/378/2571/1696; 631/378/368/2431; 64/60; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedicine; Brain research; brief-communication; Cell culture; Cytoplasmic Granules - metabolism; Dendrites - physiology; Dendritic cells; Dentate gyrus; Female; Hippocampus - cytology; Homeostasis - physiology; Infections; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Models, Animal; Morphology; Neurobiology; Neurogenesis; Neuroimaging - methods; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurosciences; Physiological aspects; Transplants & implants; United States
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/nn.4301

In this study the authors have imaged the growth of adult-born dentate granule cell dendrites in vivo longitudinally over several weeks. They have found that branch addition is dependent on behavioral experience and molecular cues and that pruning acts homeostatically to promote a similar dendritic structure for all granule cells. We longitudinally imaged the developing dendrites of adult-born mouse dentate granule cells (DGCs) in vivo and found that they underwent over-branching and pruning. Exposure to an enriched environment and constraint of dendritic growth by disrupting Wnt signaling led to increased branch addition and accelerated growth, which were, however, counteracted by earlier and more extensive pruning. Our results indicate that pruning is regulated in a homeostatic fashion to oppose excessive branching and promote a similar dendrite structure in DGCs.