Dendritic arbor dynamics and stability in health and disease

Abstract

Dendritogenesis, a process of dendritic arbor development, is essential for the formation of functional neuronal networks, and in mammals, it begins in early life and continues into adulthood. It is a highly dynamic process in which dendritic branches form and regress until mature connectivity is achieved. Thereafter, dendritic branches are considered stable and do not undergo substantial rearrangements, although several exceptions have been described in the literature. After this long period of relative stability, significant changes in dendritic branching occur when the brain begins to age. Several neurological diseases, occurring both during development and in adulthood, have severe effects on the morphology of dendritic arbors, often associated with intellectual dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms of dendritogenesis are fairly well described. In contrast, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of dendritic arbor stabilization and pathology‑induced instability is still quite incomplete, and several important questions remain unanswered. We describe the dynamic changes during development and adulthood and in different pathologies. Whenever possible, we also provide details on the molecular mechanisms behind dendritic dynamics and stability.