Video Microscopy of Neuronal Migration - Movies from the Hatten Lab


Neuron Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 0.6MB)
Solecki, 2003

Centrosomal and nuclear motion in a migrating neuron. Purified cerebellar granule neurons were labeled with Ven-mPar6 alpha and cultured with cerebellar glia. Movement of the centrosome precedes nuclear movement as the neuron migrates along it glial guide. Total elapsed time was six minutes.

Cell Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 5.5MB)
Hatten, Bhatt, Tomoda, Didkovsky, 2000

Migrating Granule Cell in vivo

Cell Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 4.6MB)
Hatten, Bhatt, Tomoda, Didkovsky, 2000

Migrating Granule Cell in vivo

Cell Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 6MB)
Hatten, Bhatt, Tomoda, Didkovsky, 2000

Parallel Fiber Extension in situ

Cell Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 8.8MB)
Hatten, Wingate, Didkovsky, 2000

Migrating granule cells

Cell Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 21MB)
Millonig, Gallagher, Didkovsky, 2000

Migrating granule cells

Cell Migration MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 1.31MB)
Cell Migration GIF89a movie

(GIF89a movie, 736KB)
Hatten and Edmondson, 1987. (J. Neurosci.)

Migration of cerebellar granule cells along astroglial fibers in vitro. Immature granule neurons, purified from early postnatal cerebellum, extend a specialized, migratory process along the underlying glial fiber. In this sequence, a neuron moves along a glial fiber at approximately 50 microns/h. As the neuron moves, lamellipodia and filopodia extend and retract along the length of the migratory process, enwrapping the glial guide. The neuron forms an interstitial junction along the length of the cell soma, which is released as the cell begins to move.
Single cell MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 528KB)
Single cell GIF89a movie

(GIF89a movie, 554KB)
Gasser and Hatten, 1989. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA)

Migration of neurons from one brain region along astroglial fibers from another. Immature granule neurons, purified from the early postnatal cerebellar cortex, migrate along the processes of glial cells isolated from hippocampus. The dynamics of movement of neurons from one region closely parallel those of neurons from other regions, suggesting that the mode of migration along glial fibers is stereotyped. The movement of the neuron is saltatory. The leading process extends along the glial fiber, after which the cell soma appears to contract and then extend just prior to release of the adhesion junction underneath the cell soma. This sequence is repeated, as the neuron progresses along the glial fiber.
Astrotactin Effect MPEG movie

(MPEG movie, 719KB)
Astrotactin Effect GIF89a movie

(GIF89a movie, 736KB)
Fishell and Hatten, 1991. (Development)
Astrotactin Provides a Neuronal Ligand for Movement along the Glial Fiber. To provide an assay for cell surface receptor systems that function in neuronal migration, low power views are used to track the movement of a large population of cerebelar granule cells. In the first sequence, neurons are seen migrating along glial fibers. The application of antibodies against the neuronal protein astrotactin (flash across the top of the screen) results in rapid arrest of neuronal movement. As migration ceases, the long glial processes "sway" across the field.

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