Dendrite enlightenment

Neuronal dendrites acquire complex morphologies during development. These are not just the product of cell-intrinsic developmental programs; rather they are defined in close interaction with the cellular environment. Thus, to understand the molecular cascades that yield appropriate morphologies, it is essential to investigate them in vivo, in the actual complex tissue environment encountered by the differentiating neuron in the developing animal. Particularly, genetic approaches have pointed to factors controlling dendrite differentiation in vivo. These suggest that localized and transient molecular cascades might underlie the formation and stabilization of dendrite branches with neuron type-specific characteristics. Here, I highlight the need for studies of neuronal dendrite differentiation in the animal, the challenges provided by such an approach, and the promising pathways that have recently opened.

Automated summary

Neuronal dendrites acquire complex morphologies through interactions with the cellular environment during development. Genetic approaches have identified factors controlling dendrite differentiation in vivo, suggesting localized molecular cascades are key to forming and stabilizing dendrite branches with neuron type-specific characteristics. Though challenging, studying neuronal dendrite differentiation in animals shows promising pathways for future research.