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Related Concept Videos

Action Potentials01:41

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Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
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Axons are long, cytoplasmic processes of nerve cells capable of propagating electrical impulses known as action potentials. The cytoplasm or axoplasm of an axon contains neurofibrils, neurotubules, small vesicles, lysosomes, mitochondria, and various enzymes, all encased within the axolemma, the plasma membrane of the axon.
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The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
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In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
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Related Experiment Video

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Axon Stretch Growth: The Mechanotransduction of Neuronal Growth
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Extremely Low Forces Induce Extreme Axon Growth.

Sara De Vincentiis1, Alessandro Falconieri1, Marco Mainardi2,3

  • 1Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|May 24, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Mechanical forces applied to axons induce stretch-growth, a process vital for neuronal development. This study reveals how low forces promote axon elongation and branching, offering new strategies for nerve regeneration.

Keywords:
axon growthforcemechanotransduction

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Axon growth is crucial for neural circuit formation and repair.
  • The role of mechanical forces in axon elongation, termed stretch-growth, has been historically understudied due to methodological limitations.
  • Understanding endogenous mechanisms of axon growth is key for developing therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of applied mechanical forces on axon growth using magnetic nanoparticles.
  • To quantify the relationship between force magnitude and axon elongation rate.
  • To elucidate the molecular and structural mechanisms underlying stretch-growth.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) to label hippocampal neuron axons.
  • Applied external magnetic field gradients to generate controlled mechanical forces (dragging force).
  • Employed calcium imaging to monitor elongation rates and assessed effects of translation inhibition and BDNF signaling.

Main Results:

  • Forces below 10 pN induced axon growth at a rate of 0.66 ± 0.02 µm h⁻¹ pN⁻¹.
  • Stretch-growth increased axonal branching, glutamatergic transmission, and neuronal excitability.
  • Enhanced growth correlated with endoplasmic reticulum accumulation and increased microtubule density, requiring active translation and microtubule assembly.
  • Stretched axons showed no response to BDNF, indicating pathway interference.

Conclusions:

  • Physiologically relevant mechanical forces can drive significant axon elongation and branching.
  • Stretch-growth relies on microtubule dynamics and protein synthesis.
  • This force-mediated growth mechanism may be distinct from or interfere with growth factor signaling pathways like BDNF.
  • Stretch-growth represents a potentially significant endogenous mechanism for axon growth with therapeutic implications for nerve regeneration.