Mechanism of Axonal Contractility in Embryonic Drosophila Motor Neurons In Vivo.

ABSTRACT: Several in vitro and limited in vivo experiments have shown that neurons maintain a rest tension along their axons intrinsically. They grow in response to stretch but contract in response to loss of tension. This contraction eventually leads to the restoration of the rest tension in axons. However, the mechanism by which axons maintain tension in vivo remains elusive. The objective of this work is to elucidate the key cytoskeletal components responsible for generating tension in axons. Toward this goal, in vivo experiments were conducted on single axons of embryonic Drosophila motor neurons in the presence of various drugs. Each axon was slackened mechanically by bringing the neuromuscular junction toward the central nervous system multiple times. In the absence of any drug, axons shortene

SUBMITTER: Tofangchi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5052456 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature