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Related Experiment Videos

Neuronal plasma membrane dynamics evoked by osmomechanical perturbations

L R Mills1, C E Morris

  • 1Playfair Neuroscience Unit, The Toronto Hospital Research Institute and Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 11-430 TWH 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8.

The Journal of Membrane Biology
|December 8, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Neurons reorganize plasma membranes during swelling and shrinking, forming transient vacuole-like dilations (VLDs). These VLDs regulate neuronal surface area by internalizing membrane during shrinking and reversing during swelling.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Membrane Dynamics

Background:

  • Neurons undergo significant plasma membrane reorganization during volume changes (swelling and shrinking).
  • Vacuole-like dilations (VLDs) are transient structures observed during these processes, counterintuitively expanding as neurons shrink.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the membrane topology and dynamics of VLDs during their formation, expansion, shrinkage, and recovery in cultured neurons.
  • To elucidate the role of VLDs in neuronal plasma membrane surface area regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Confocal microscopy was employed on cultured molluscan (Lymnaea) neurons.
  • Aqueous phase and membrane dyes were used to track VLD membrane topology and dynamics.
  • Washout experiments assessed the isolation of VLDs from the external medium.

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Main Results:

  • VLDs initiate as invaginations at the adherent neuronal surface, with contiguous VLD and plasma membranes.
  • VLDs expand into the cytoplasm and subsequently shrink, leading to plasma membrane internalization via VLD mouth constriction.
  • VLD constriction results in the formation of true vacuoles, and VLDs can be reversed by inducing neuronal swelling.

Conclusions:

  • VLD formation and membrane reinternalization are key mechanisms for neuronal plasma membrane surface area regulation.
  • These processes are likely driven by regional membrane tension differences when normal reprocessing steps are overloaded.
  • Neuronal volume changes, particularly osmotic perturbations, trigger surface area adjustments mediated by VLD dynamics.