Tension- and Adhesion-Regulated Retraction of Injured Axons.

ABSTRACT: Damage-induced retraction of axons during traumatic brain injury is believed to play a key role in the disintegration of the neural network and to eventually lead to severe symptoms such as permanent memory loss and emotional disturbances. However, fundamental questions such as how axon retraction progresses and what physical factors govern this process still remain unclear. Here, we report a combined experimental and modeling study to address these questions. Specifically, a sharp atomic force microscope probe was used to transect axons and trigger their retraction in a precisely controlled manner. Interestingly, we showed that the retracting motion of a well-developed axon can be arrested by strong cell-substrate attachment. However, axon retraction was found to be retriggered if a secon

SUBMITTER: Shao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6702139 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature