Figure 4.

Mechanisms of electric growth cone guidance. Electrotaxis of growth cones is at least partially mediated by elevation of intracellular calcium though activation of voltage gated calcium channels (VGCC). The effect is increased in the presence of neutotrophins, such as BDNF or NT3 and neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine (ACh), via activation of PLC through MAPK or PI3K. The elevated calcium levels activate a number of Rho GTPases, leading to actin and microtubule modification and growth cone mobility. To see this illustration in color, the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertpub.com/wound