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Free keywords:
retinal ganglion-cells
mediated afferent activity
drosophila
visual-system
eye-specific segregation
n-cadherin
zebrafish retina
superior colliculus
amacrine cells
mouse retina
in-vivo
Cell Biology
Abstract:
The specificity of synaptic connections is directly related to the functional integrity of neural circuits. Long-range axon guidance and topographic mapping mechanisms bring axons into spatial proximity of target cells and thus limit the number of potential synaptic partners. Synaptic specificity is then achieved by extracellular short-range guidance cues and cell-surface recognition cues. Neural activity may enhance the precision and strength of specific circuit connections. Here, we focus on one of the final steps of synaptic matchmaking: the targeting of synaptic layers and the mutual recognition of axons and dendrites within these layers.
