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Axon kinematics change during growth and development

Hailing Hao1, David I Shreiber

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 617 Bowser Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
|July 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Axon behavior in chick embryo spinal cords shifts from uncoupled to coupled responses under mechanical stretch as development progresses. This change is linked to growth and myelination, impacting responses to physiological forces.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomechanics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Axons exhibit complex microkinematic responses to mechanical forces.
  • Understanding axon behavior during development is crucial for comprehending neural tissue mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microkinematic response of axons to mechanical stretch in the developing chick embryo spinal cord.
  • To quantify changes in axon tortuosity and kinematic behavior during embryonic development (E12-E18).

Main Methods:

  • Spinal cords were isolated at embryonic days E12, E14, E16, and E18.
  • Tissues were subjected to mechanical stretch (0-20%) and fixed.
  • Axon tortuosity was quantified using immunohistochemistry and epifluorescence microscopy.

Main Results:

  • Axon tortuosity decreased with increasing mechanical stretch.
  • Axons transitioned from non-affine (uncoupled) to affine (coupled) behavior with increasing stretch levels.
  • The percentage of non-affine axons decreased from 64% at E12 to 30% at E18, correlating with spinal cord growth and myelination.

Conclusions:

  • Axon kinematics shift from non-affine to affine behavior during embryonic development.
  • This developmental change in axon mechanics is influenced by spinal cord growth and myelination.
  • Findings have implications for understanding neural tissue response to physiological forces and trauma.

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