Establishment of neuronal polarity: lessons from cultured hippocampal neurons

In recent years we have learned a great deal about the molecular mechanisms underlying axonal elongation and navigation and the manner in which extrac ellular signals modify a growth cone's course of action. Yet, the mechanism s responsible for the earlier events of axonal and dendritic generation are just beginning to be understood. The recent advances in this exciting fiel d highlight the importance of studies of cell migration and axonal elongati on for our current understanding of the establishment of neuronal polarity.