anterograd

Anterograd, sometimes seen as anterograde, is an adjective describing movement away from a source or origin. In biology and medicine, it denotes forward progression from starting points toward a destination, and the term is used in various contexts to describe directional processes.

In neuroscience, anterograde transport refers to the movement of molecules and organelles from the neuronal soma (cell body) toward axon terminals. This process is primarily driven by kinesin motor proteins traveling along microtubules and is responsible for delivering synaptic vesicles, mitochondria, proteins, and other cargo to nerve terminals. Researchers distinguish fast and slow components of anterograde transport, reflecting differences in speed and cargo type.

Anterograde tracing is a methodological application used to map neural circuits. By introducing tracers that move from the cell body along axons to their targets, scientists can delineate projection patterns and connectivity. Common anterograde tracers include Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) and biotinylated dextran amine (BDA).

Clinically, the term appears in phrases such as anterograde amnesia, which describes impaired formation of new memories following an event, contrasted with retrograde amnesia, which affects memories formed before the event. Beyond neuroscience, anterograde concepts may appear in discussions of forward progression in other biological processes, but the term is most closely associated with forward transport and tracing in neurons. The spelling anterograd is a less common variant, with anterograde being the standard form in contemporary usage.