Targeted neuronal ablation: the role of pioneer neurons in guidance and fasciculation in the CNS of Drosophila

Although pioneer neurons are the first to delineate the axon pathways, it is uncertain whether they have unique pathfinding abilities. As a first step in defining the role of pioneer neurons in the Drosophila embryonic CNS, we describe the temporal profile and trajectory of the axons of four pioneer neurons and show that they differ from previously published reports. We show, by targeted ablation of one, two, three or four pioneer neurons at a time, that (1) no single pioneer neuron is essential for axon tract formation, (2) the interaction between two pioneers is necessary for the establishment of each fascicle and (3) pioneer neurons function synergistically to establish the longitudinal axon tracts, to guide the fasciculation of follower neurons along specific fascicles and to prevent axons from crossing the midline.

Microtubule behavior during guidance of pioneer neuron growth cones in situ.

The growth of an axon toward its target results from the reorganization of the cytoskeleton in response to environmental guidance cues. Recently developed imaging technology makes it possible to address the effect of such cues on the neural cytoskeleton directly. Although high resolution studies can be carried out on neurons in vitro, these circumstances do not recreate the complexity of the natural environment. We report here on the arrangement and dynamics of microtubules in live neurons pathfinding in response to natural guidance cues in situ using the embryonic grasshopper limb fillet preparation. A rich microtubule network was present within the body of the growth cone and normally extended into the distal growth cone margin. Complex microtubule loops often formed transiently within the growth cone. Branches both with and without microtubules were regularly observed. Microtubules did not extend into filopodia. During growth cone steering events in response to identified guidance cues, microtubule behaviour could be monitored. In turns towards guidepost cells, microtubules selectively invaded branches derived from filopodia that had contacted the guidepost cell. At limb segment boundaries, microtubules displayed a variety of behaviors, including selective branch invasion, and also invasion of multiple branches followed by selective retention in branches oriented in the correct direction. Microtubule invasion of multiple branches also was seen in growth cones migrating on intrasegmental epithelium. Both selective invasion and selective retention generate asymmetrical microtubule arrangements within the growth cone, and may play a key role in growth cone steering events.

Organization of cytoskeletal elements and organelles preceding growth cone emergence from an identified neuron in situ.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the arrangement of cytoskeletal elements and organelles in an identified neuron in situ at the site of emergence of its growth cone just before and concurrent with the onset of axonogenesis. The Ti1 pioneer neurons are the first pair of afferent neurons to differentiate in embryonic grasshopper limbs. They arise at the distal tip of the limb bud epithelium, the daughter cells of a single precursor cell, the Pioneer Mother Cell (PMC). Using immunohistochemical markers, we characterized the organization of microtubules, centrosomes, Golgi apparatus, midbody, actin filaments, and chromatin from mitosis in the PMC through axonogenesis in the Tils. Just before and concurrent with the onset of axonogenesis, a characteristic arrangement of tubulin, actin filaments, and Golgi apparatus is localized at the proximal pole of the proximal pioneer neuron. The growth cone of the proximal cell stereotypically arises from this site. Although the distal cell's axon generally grows proximally, occasionally it arises from its distal pole; in such limbs, the axons from the sister cells extend from mirror symmetric locations on their somata. In the presence of cytochalasin D, the PMC undergoes nuclear division but not cytokinesis and although other neuronal phenotypes are expressed, axongenesis is inhibited. Our data suggest that intrinsic information determines the site of growth cone emergence of an identified neuron in situ.