Lecture Notes on Neural Development: Targeting and Synapse Formation

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from neuronal development, including migration, axon guidance, target recognition, synapse formation at the neuromuscular junction and central synapses, as well as pruning and refinement.

Ventricular zone

Region where neural progenitor cells divide and begin the process of neuronal development before migrating to their final destinations.

Glial tracks

Glial fibers along which developing neurons migrate to reach their target sites.

Axon guidance

The process by which growing axons are directed to their correct targets via signaling cues.

Chemoattractive cues

Chemical signals from target cells that attract growing axons toward them.

Synaptic specificity

The precise, selective formation of synapses with the correct target cells.

Inner Plexiform Layer

Retinal layer where synapses form between bipolar/amacrine cells and retinal ganglion cells, contributing to ON/OFF pathway segregation.

On/Off retinal ganglion cells

Retinal ganglion cells that segregate inputs based on ON versus OFF pathways, corresponding to different layers in the retina.

Olfactory receptor

Receptor expressed by olfactory neurons that influences which glomerulus in the olfactory bulb the neuron will target.

cAMP gradient

Graded cyclic AMP signaling that helps guide olfactory neuron targeting to specific glomeruli.

In utero activation

Early, nonspecific activation of olfactory receptors before actual odor detection that helps set initial targeting.

Olfactory bulb glomeruli

Restricted target sites in the olfactory bulb where axons expressing the same receptor converge.

Agrin

Neuron-derived protein that triggers clustering of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.

MuSK

Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase; receptor for agrin, with the co-receptor LRP4, guiding AChR clustering at NMJ.

Basal lamina

Extracellular matrix at synaptic junctions (notably NMJ) that supports synapse formation and maintenance.

Laminin

Protein in the basal lamina essential for proper neuromuscular junction formation and stabilization.

Neurexins

Presynaptic cell adhesion proteins that interact with postsynaptic neuroligands to promote synapse formation.

Neuroligands

Postsynaptic ligands that bind neurexins to help mediate synapse formation.

Synaptic pruning

Selective elimination of synapses during development, refining neural circuits.

Microglia

CNS immune cells that phagocytose synapses during pruning and refinement, similar to macrophages.

Gephyrin (Jeffrin in notes)

Scaffolding protein that anchors inhibitory GABA/glycine receptors at synapses; critical for receptor organization.