K⁺ Channel Kv3.4 Is Essential for Axon Growth by Limiting the Influx of Ca²⁺ into Growth Cones.

ABSTRACT: Membrane excitability in the axonal growth cones of embryonic neurons influences axon growth. Voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) channels are key factors in controlling membrane excitability, but whether they regulate axon growth remains unclear. Here, we report that Kv3.4 is expressed in the axonal growth cones of embryonic spinal commissural neurons, motoneurons, dorsal root ganglion neurons, retinal ganglion cells, and callosal projection neurons during axon growth. Our in vitro (cultured dorsal spinal neurons of chick embryos) and in vivo (developing chick spinal commissural axons and rat callosal axons) findings demonstrate that knockdown of Kv3.4 by a specific shRNA impedes axon initiation, elongation, pathfinding, and fasciculation. In cultured dorsal spinal neurons, blo

SUBMITTER: Huang CY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6596659 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature