Balance between BDNF and Semaphorins gates the innervation of the mammary gland

  1. Hadas Sar Shalom
  2. Ron Goldner
  3. Yarden Golan-Vaishenker
  4. Avraham Yaron  Is a corresponding author
  1. Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
8 figures, 1 table and 1 additional file

Figures

Figure 1 with 2 supplements
TrkB displays sexually dimorphic expression in the mammary gland while members of the Semaphorin family display a non-dimorphic expression.

(A, B) Mammary gland sections of late E13 female and male embryos were stained with TrkBECD antibody and counterstained with DAPI for visualization of the mammary gland structure. Arrows indicate …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.003
Figure 1—figure supplement 1
In-Situ hybridization screen for Semaphorins expression in the mammary gland.

In-situ hybridization of mammary gland sections of late E13 female embryos using specific digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled RNA probes against Semaphorins of Class 3, 4, 5 and 6. Mammary epithelium is …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.004
Figure 1—figure supplement 2
Sense controls of Sema3d, Sema3f and Sema6a.

In-situ hybridization of mammary gland sections of late E13 female embryos using specific digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled Sense RNA probes against Semaphorins 3D, 3F and 6A. Mammary epithelium is marked …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.005
Figure 2 with 1 supplement
In vitro growth cone collapse of BDNF-responsive neurons by Sema6A and Sema3D is PlexinA4 dependent.

(A, C, E) DRG explants from early E13 WT or PlexinA4 KO embryos were grown for 48 hr, treated with 1 ng/µl soluble Sema6A-Fc (A), 0.02 ng/µl soluble Sema3D-Fc (C), 1 nM of Sema3F-AP (E), or control …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.006
Figure 2—source data 1

Percentage of collapsed growth cones in WT and PlexinA4 KO.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.008
Figure 2—figure supplement 1
Sema6A binds solely to PlexinA4 in BDNF-responsive sensory neurons.

DRG explants from early E13 embryos or PlexinA4 KO embryos grown for 48 hr were incubated with 1 ng/µl soluble Sema6A-Fc for 90 min containing 1:1000 goat anti-human IgG (Fc specific), Alkaline …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.007
Figure 3 with 1 supplement
Ablation of Sema6A causes hyperinnervation of the mammary gland by sensory axons in female embryos.

(A) Mammary gland sections of WT and Sema6A KO female embryos at different embryonic stages were stained with Tuj1 (red) and DAPI (blue) for visualization of sensory neuron innervations. Scale bar: …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.009
Figure 3—source data 1

Percentage of mammary gland innervation density in WT and Sema6A KO female embryos.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.012
Figure 3—figure supplement 1
Ablation of Sema6A has no effect on mammary gland innervation in male embryos.

(A) Mammary gland sections of WT and Sema6A KO male embryos at different embryonic stages were stained with Tuj1 (red) and DAPI (blue) for visualization of sensory neuron innervations. Scale bar: 50 …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.010
Figure 3—figure supplement 1—source data 1

Percentage of mammary gland innervation density in WT and Sema6A KO male embryos.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.011
Figure 4 with 1 supplement
Ablation of PlexinA4 in females causes axonal hyperinnervation of the mammary gland which is balanced by genetic reduction in BDNF.

(A) Mammary gland sections from WT, PlexinA4 KO, BDNF Het, and PlexinA4 KO/BDNF Het female embryos at different embryonic stages were stained with Tuj1 (red) and DAPI (blue) to visualize sensory …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.013
Figure 4—source data 1

Percentage of mammary gland innervation density in WT, PlexinA4 KO, BDNF Het and PlexinA4 KO/BDNF Het female embryos.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.015
Figure 4—figure supplement 1
Excess innervations in female PlexinA4 KO are TrkB positive.

Mammary gland sections of late E13 WT and PlexinA4 KO female embryos were stained with TrkBECD antibody (red), Tuj1 (green) and counterstained with DAPI for visualization of the mammary gland …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.014
Figure 5 with 2 supplements
Ablation of PlexinA4 delays axonal pruning in males independent of the initial levels of the mammary gland innervation.

(A) Mammary gland sections of WT, PlexinA4 KO, BDNF Het, and PlexinA4 KO/BDNF Het male embryos at different embryonic stages were stained with Tuj1 (red) and DAPI (blue) to visualize sensory neuron …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.016
Figure 5—source data 1

Percentage of mammary gland innervation density in WT, PlexinA4 KO, BDNF Het and PlexinA4 KO/BDNF Het male embryos.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.019
Figure 5—figure supplement 1
Excess innervations in male PlexinA4 KO are TrkB positive.

Mammary gland sections of late E13 WT and PlexinA4 KO male embryos were stained with TrkBECD antibody (red), Tuj1 (green) and counterstained with DAPI for visualization of the mammary gland …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.017
Figure 5—figure supplement 2
PlexinA4 does not control the expression of TrkB.T1.

Mammary gland sections of late E13 WT and PlexinA4 KO male embryos were stained with TrkBECD antibody, and counterstained with DAPI for visualization of the mammary gland structure. Arrows indicate …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.018
Hypersensitivity to PlexinA4 signaling induced by reduction in BDNF.

(A) Explants of early E13 embryonic DRGs were cultured in media containing 50 ng/ml BDNF for 48 hr, then the media was replaced to 50 ng/ml BDNF (+BDNF), or media without BDNF (-BDNF) both with low …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.020
Figure 6—source data 1

Percentage of collapsed growth cones.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.021
Co-ablation of TrkB.T1 and PlexinA4 has no additive effect on axonal pruning.

(A) Mammary gland sections of WT, PlexinA4 KO, TrkB.T1 KO, and PlexinA4 KO/TrkB.T1 KO male embryos at different embryonic stages were stained with Tuj1 (red) and DAPI (blue) to visualize sensory …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.022
Figure 7—source data 1

Percentage of mammary gland innervation density in WT, PlexinA4 KO, TrkB.T1 KO and PlexinA4 KO/TrkB.T1 KO male embryos.

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.023
The relative balance between BDNF and Semaphorins regulates the level of mammary gland innervation in females and may promote axonal pruning in males.

(A) In females: a balance between BDNF and Semaphorins specifies normal innervation of the mammary gland. Decreased levels of BDNF cause hypoinnervation and decreased Semaphorins cause …

https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41162.024

Tables

Key resources table
Reagent type
(species) or resource
DesignationSource or referenceIdentifiersAdditional information
Genetic reagent
(M. Musculus)
Sema6a-/-PMID: 11242070Dr. Marc
Tessier-Lavigne
(Stanford)
Genetic reagent
(M. Musculus)
Plxna4-/-PMID: 15721238Dr. Marc
Tessier-Lavigne
(Stanford)
Genetic reagent
(M. Musculus)
Ntrk2.T1-/-PMID: 16815329Dr. Lino
Tessarollo (NIH)
Genetic reagent
(M. Musculus)
Bdnf-/-Jackson Laboratorystock #: 002266 RRID: MGI:2175720PMID: 8139657
Cell line
(Homo sapiens)
HEK293ATCCATCC CRL-1573
RRID:CVCL_0045
Cell line
(Cercopithecus aethiops)
COS1ATCCATCC CRL-1650
RRID: CVCL_0223
AntibodyMouse monoclonal anti-tubulin β-IIIR and DCat. #: MAB1195 RRID:AB_357520IHC (1:500)
AntibodyRabbit polyclonal anti-tubulin β-IIIBiolegendCat. # 802001 RRID:AB_2564645IHC-Fr (1:1000)
AntibodyPolyclonal Goat anti-Mouse TrkbR and DCat. # AF1494 RRID:AB_2155264IHC-Fr (1:100)
Peptide,
recombinant protein
Human Sema6A-FCPMID: 20606624
Peptide,
recombinant protein
Mouse Sema3D-FCThis paper
Peptide,
recombinant protein
Mouse AP-Sema3FPMID: 9331348
Chemical
compound, drug
Phalloidin-RhodamineSigmap19511:250
Chemical
compound, drug
Ara-CSigmaC176830 uM

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