Transplantation of Xenopus laevis tissues to determine the ability of motor neurons to acquire a novel target

Karen L Elliott; Douglas W Houston; Bernd Fritzsch

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055541

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Transplantation of Xenopus laevis tissues to determine the ability of motor neurons to acquire a novel target

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Transplantation of Xenopus laevis tissues to determine the ability of motor neurons to acquire a novel target

Karen L Elliott, Douglas W Houston and Bernd Fritzsch

PloS one, Vol.8(2), pp.e55541-e55541

2013

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055541

PMCID: PMC3562177

PMID: 23383335

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Abstract

The evolutionary origin of novelties is a central problem in biology. At a cellular level this requires, for example, molecularly resolving how brainstem motor neurons change their innervation target from muscle fibers (branchial motor neurons) to neural crest-derived ganglia (visceral motor neurons) or ear-derived hair cells (inner ear and lateral line efferent neurons). Transplantation of various tissues into the path of motor neuron axons could determine the ability of any motor neuron to innervate a novel target. Several tissues that receive direct, indirect, or no motor innervation were transplanted into the path of different motor neuron populations in Xenopus laevis embryos. Ears, somites, hearts, and lungs were transplanted to the orbit, replacing the eye. Jaw and eye muscle were transplanted to the trunk, replacing a somite. Applications of lipophilic dyes and immunohistochemistry to reveal motor neuron axon terminals were used. The ear, but not somite-derived muscle, heart, or liver, received motor neuron axons via the oculomotor or trochlear nerves. Somite-derived muscle tissue was innervated, likely by the hypoglossal nerve, when replacing the ear. In contrast to our previous report on ear innervation by spinal motor neurons, none of the tissues (eye or jaw muscle) was innervated when transplanted to the trunk. Taken together, these results suggest that there is some plasticity inherent to motor innervation, but not every motor neuron can become an efferent to any target that normally receives motor input. The only tissue among our samples that can be innervated by all motor neurons tested is the ear. We suggest some possible, testable molecular suggestions for this apparent uniqueness.

Immunohistochemistry

Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism

Microscopy, Confocal

Lung - innervation

Motor Neurons - physiology

Animals

Somites - innervation

Xenopus laevis

Embryo, Nonmammalian - innervation

Ear - innervation

Tissue Transplantation - methods

Heart - innervation

Details

Title: Subtitle: Transplantation of Xenopus laevis tissues to determine the ability of motor neurons to acquire a novel target
Creators: Karen L Elliott - Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
Douglas W Houston
Bernd Fritzsch
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.8(2), pp.e55541-e55541
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055541
PMID: 23383335
PMCID: PMC3562177
NLM abbreviation: PLoS One
ISSN: 1932-6203
eISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science; United States
Grant note: R01 GM083999 / NIGMS NIH HHS R01 DC055095590 / NIDCD NIH HHS P30 DC010362 / NIDCD NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2013
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984070596502771

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