My work has focused on understanding neuronal polarity, which is typically framed as a clear separation between axons and dendrites, an organising principle that has shaped much of modern neuroscience. However, many neurons fall outside of this canonical architecture, suggesting that this binary view may be insufficient to capture the diversity of neuronal function. Our lab has shown that olfactory bulb dopaminergic neurons exist in two main forms: axon-bearing neurons with classical axon-dendrite architecture, and anaxonic neurons that lack an axon entirely. Building on this framework, our work shows that these neurons are not simply structural variants, but engage in distinct forms of dendritic neurotransmitter release and self-inhibition that fundamentally shape their functional output. By dissecting these populations, we identified additional layers of heterogeneity that reveal how even closely-related cell subtypes can operate across a spectrum of polarity configurations. More broadly, this work highlights the need to move beyond a strictly binary view of neuronal polarity. While in canonical neurons axons and dendrites are structurally and functionally distinct, they ultimately operate together within single neurons, and their interaction is essential for shaping neuronal function. However, the development and organisation of these domains have largely been studied in isolation. Within the olfactory bulb, I extend this perspective to mitral cells, harnessing the extensive dendritic pruning that occurs during the first postnatal week to examine how axonal and dendritic domains are coordinated during development. By tracking these developmental changes, this approach allows me to directly examine how the refinement of dendritic architecture is coupled to the establishment and organisation of axonal domains within single neurons, providing a framework to study how their interaction emerges during maturation.

More information: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/ana.dorrego-rivas/