Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
Cell Adh Migr. 2010 Jul-Sep;4(3):337-41. doi: 10.4161/cam.4.3.11219. Epub 2010 Jul 18.
Longitudinal axons grow long distances along precise pathways to connect major CNS regions. However, during embryonic development, it remains largely undefined how the first longitudinal axons choose specific positions and grow along them. Here, we review recent evidence identifying a critical role for Slit/Robo signals to guide pioneer longitudinal axons in the embryonic brain stem. These studies indicate that Slit/Robo signals from the floor plate have dual functions: to repel longitudinal axons away from the ventral midline, and also to maintain straight longitudinal growth. These dual functions likely cooperate with other guidance cues to establish the major longitudinal tracts in the brain.
轴突沿着精确的路径生长很长的距离，从而将中枢神经系统的主要区域连接起来。然而，在胚胎发育过程中，第一个轴突如何选择特定的位置并沿着这些位置生长，在很大程度上仍然没有得到明确的定义。在这里，我们回顾了最近的证据，这些证据表明 Slit/Robo 信号在引导胚胎脑干中的先驱性长轴突方面起着关键作用。这些研究表明，来自基板的 Slit/Robo 信号具有双重功能：将长轴突排斥离开腹中线，并保持长轴突的直线生长。这两个功能可能与其他导向线索合作，在大脑中建立主要的长轴突束。
