Evolutionary conservation of the early axon scaffold in the vertebrate brain

Michelle Ware, Valérie Dupé, Frank Schubert

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    Abstract

    The early axon scaffold is the first axonal structure to appear in the rostral brain of vertebrates, paving the way for later, more complex connections. A number of early axon scaffold components are conserved between all vertebrates; most notably two main ventral longitudinal tracts, the tract of the postoptic commissure and the medial longitudinal fascicle. While the overall structure is remarkably similar, differences both in the organisation and the development of the early tracts are apparent. This review will bring together extensive data from the last 25 years in different vertebrates and for the first time, the timing and anatomy of these early tracts have been directly compared. Representatives of major vertebrate clades, including cat shark, Xenopus, chick and mouse embryos will be compared using immunohistochemistry staining based on previous results. There is still confusion over the nomenclature and homology of these tracts which this review will aim to address. The discussion here is relevant both for understanding the evolution of the early axon scaffold and for future studies into the molecular regulation of its formation.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1202-1214
    JournalDevelopmental Dynamics
    Volume244
    Issue number10
    Early online date13 Aug 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2015

    Keywords

    • evolution
    • Brain
    • Embryonic Development

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