The Regulation of Axon Diameter: From Axonal Circumferential Contractility to Activity-Dependent Axon Swelling

Myelinated peripheral axons are more vulnerable to mechanical trauma in a model of enlarged axonal diameters

The velocity of axonal impulse propagation is facilitated by myelination and axonal diameters. Both parameters are frequently impaired in peripheral nerve disorders, but it is not known if the diameters of myelinated axons affect the liability to injury or the efficiency of functional recovery. Mice lacking the adaxonal myelin protein chemokine-like factor-like MARVEL-transmembrane domain-containing family member-6 (CMTM6) specifically from Schwann cells (SCs) display appropriate myelination but increased diameters of peripheral axons. Here we subjected Cmtm6-cKo mice as a model of enlarged axonal diameters to a mild sciatic nerve compression injury that causes temporarily reduced axonal diameters but otherwise comparatively moderate pathology of the axon/myelin-unit. Notably, both of these pathological features were worsened in Cmtm6-cKo compared to genotype-control mice early post-injury. The increase of axonal diameters caused by CMTM6-deficiency thus does not override their injury-dependent decrease. Accordingly, we did not detect signs of improved regeneration or functional recovery after nerve compression in Cmtm6-cKo mice; depleting CMTM6 in SCs is thus not a promising strategy toward enhanced recovery after nerve injury. Conversely, the exacerbated axonal damage in Cmtm6-cKo nerves early post-injury coincided with both enhanced immune response including foamy macrophages and SCs and transiently reduced grip strength. Our observations support the concept that larger peripheral axons are particularly susceptible toward mechanical trauma.

Pore size estimation in axon-mimicking microfibers with diffusion-relaxation MRI

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate two distinct approaches for fiber radius estimation using diffusion-relaxation MRI data acquired in biomimetic microfiber phantoms that mimic hollow axons. The methods considered are the spherical mean power-law approach and a T2-based pore size estimation technique.

THEORY AND METHODS

A general diffusion-relaxation theoretical model for the spherical mean signal from water molecules within a distribution of cylinders with varying radii was introduced, encompassing the evaluated models as particular cases. Additionally, a new numerical approach was presented for estimating effective radii (i.e., MRI-visible mean radii) from the ground truth radii distributions, not reliant on previous theoretical approximations and adaptable to various acquisition sequences. The ground truth radii were obtained from scanning electron microscope images.

RESULTS

Both methods show a linear relationship between effective radii estimated from MRI data and ground-truth radii distributions, although some discrepancies were observed. The spherical mean power-law method overestimated fiber radii. Conversely, the T2-based method exhibited higher sensitivity to smaller fiber radii, but faced limitations in accurately estimating the radius in one particular phantom, possibly because of material-specific relaxation changes.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates the feasibility of both techniques to predict pore sizes of hollow microfibers. The T2-based technique, unlike the spherical mean power-law method, does not demand ultra-high diffusion gradients, but requires calibration with known radius distributions. This research contributes to the ongoing development and evaluation of neuroimaging techniques for fiber radius estimation, highlights the advantages and limitations of both methods, and provides datasets for reproducible research.

Beyond a Transmission Cable-New Technologies to Reveal the Richness in Axonal Electrophysiology

The axon is a neuronal structure capable of processing, encoding, and transmitting information. This assessment contrasts with a limiting, but deeply rooted, perspective where the axon functions solely as a transmission cable of somatodendritic activity, sending signals in the form of stereotypical action potentials. This perspective arose, at least partially, because of the technical difficulties in probing axons: their extreme length-to-diameter ratio and intricate growth paths preclude the study of their dynamics through traditional techniques. Recent findings are challenging this view and revealing a much larger repertoire of axonal computations. Axons display complex signaling processes and structure-function relationships, which can be modulated via diverse activity-dependent mechanisms. Additionally, axons can exhibit patterns of activity that are dramatically different from those of their corresponding soma. Not surprisingly, many of these recent discoveries have been driven by novel technology developments, which allow for in vitro axon electrophysiology with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. In this review, we outline the state-of-the-art in vitro toolset for axonal electrophysiology and summarize the recent discoveries in axon function it has enabled. We also review the increasing repertoire of microtechnologies for controlling axon guidance which, in combination with the available cutting-edge electrophysiology and imaging approaches, have the potential for more controlled and high-throughput in vitro studies. We anticipate that a larger adoption of these new technologies by the neuroscience community will drive a new era of experimental opportunities in the study of axon physiology and consequently, neuronal function.

Serum neurofilament light and white matter characteristics in the general population: a longitudinal analysis

Neurofilament light polypeptide (NfL) is a component of the neuronal cytoskeleton and particularly abundant in large-caliber axons. When axonal injury occurs, NfL is released and reaches the cerebrospinal fluid and the blood. Associations between NfL and white matter alterations have previously been observed in studies based on patients with neurological diseases. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between serum NfL (sNfL) and white matter characteristics in a population-based sample. The cross-sectional associations between sNfL as dependent variable, fractional anisotropy (FA), and white matter lesion (WML) volume were analyzed with linear regression models in 307 community-dwelling adults aged between 35 and 65 years. These analyses were repeated with additional adjustment for the potential confounders age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Longitudinal associations over a mean follow-up of 5.39 years were analyzed with linear mixed models. The unadjusted cross-sectional models yielded significant associations between sNfL, WML volume, and FA, respectively. However, after the adjustment for confounders, these associations did not reach significance. In the longitudinal analyses, the findings corroborated the baseline findings showing no significant associations between sNfL and white matter macrostructure and microstructure beyond the effects of age. In synopsis with previous studies in patients with acute neurological diseases showing a significant association of sNfL with white matter changes beyond the effects of age, the present results based on a sample from the general population suggest the perspective that changes in sNfL reflect age-related effects that also manifest in altered white matter macrostructure and microstructure.

Identifying the Phenotypes of Diffuse Axonal Injury Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a significant feature of traumatic brain injury (TBI) across all injury severities and is driven by the primary mechanical insult and secondary biochemical injury phases. Axons comprise an outer cell membrane, the axolemma which is anchored to the cytoskeletal network with spectrin tetramers and actin rings. Neurofilaments act as space-filling structural polymers that surround the central core of microtubules, which facilitate axonal transport. TBI has differential effects on these cytoskeletal components, with axons in the same white matter tract showing a range of different cytoskeletal and axolemma alterations with different patterns of temporal evolution. These require different antibodies for detection in post-mortem tissue. Here, a comprehensive discussion of the evolution of axonal injury within different cytoskeletal elements is provided, alongside the most appropriate methods of detection and their temporal profiles. Accumulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) as a result of disruption of axonal transport due to microtubule failure remains the most sensitive marker of axonal injury, both acutely and chronically. However, a subset of injured axons demonstrate different pathology, which cannot be detected via APP immunoreactivity, including degradation of spectrin and alterations in neurofilaments. Furthermore, recent work has highlighted the node of Ranvier and the axon initial segment as particularly vulnerable sites to axonal injury, with loss of sodium channels persisting beyond the acute phase post-injury in axons without APP pathology. Given the heterogenous response of axons to TBI, further characterization is required in the chronic phase to understand how axonal injury evolves temporally, which may help inform pharmacological interventions.

In vivo evidence of microstructural hypo-connectivity of brain white matter in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

22q11.2 deletion syndrome, or 22q11.2DS, is a genetic syndrome associated with high rates of schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, in addition to widespread structural and functional abnormalities throughout the brain. Experimental animal models have identified neuronal connectivity deficits, e.g., decreased axonal length and complexity of axonal branching, as a primary mechanism underlying atypical brain development in 22q11.2DS. However, it is still unclear whether deficits in axonal morphology can also be observed in people with 22q11.2DS. Here, we provide an unparalleled in vivo characterization of white matter microstructure in participants with 22q11.2DS (12-15 years) and those undergoing typical development (8-18 years) using a customized magnetic resonance imaging scanner which is sensitive to axonal morphology. A rich array of diffusion MRI metrics are extracted to present microstructural profiles of typical and atypical white matter development, and provide new evidence of connectivity differences in individuals with 22q11.2DS. A recent, large-scale consortium study of 22q11.2DS identified higher diffusion anisotropy and reduced overall diffusion mobility of water as hallmark microstructural alterations of white matter in individuals across a wide age range (6-52 years). We observed similar findings across the white matter tracts included in this study, in addition to identifying deficits in axonal morphology. This, in combination with reduced tract volume measurements, supports the hypothesis that abnormal microstructural connectivity in 22q11.2DS may be mediated by densely packed axons with disproportionately small diameters. Our findings provide insight into the in vivo white matter phenotype of 22q11.2DS, and promote the continued investigation of shared features in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Thinking about the action potential: the nerve signal as a window to the physical principles guiding neuronal excitability

Ever since the work of Edgar Adrian, the neuronal action potential has been considered as an electric signal, modeled and interpreted using concepts and theories lent from electronic engineering. Accordingly, the electric action potential, as the prime manifestation of neuronal excitability, serving processing and reliable "long distance" communication of the information contained in the signal, was defined as a non-linear, self-propagating, regenerative, wave of electrical activity that travels along the surface of nerve cells. Thus, in the ground-breaking theory and mathematical model of Hodgkin and Huxley (HH), linking Nernst's treatment of the electrochemistry of semi-permeable membranes to the physical laws of electricity and Kelvin's cable theory, the electrical characteristics of the action potential are presented as the result of the depolarization-induced, voltage- and time-dependent opening and closure of ion channels in the membrane allowing the passive flow of charge, particularly in the form of Na+ and K+ -ions, into and out of the neuronal cytoplasm along the respective electrochemical ion gradient. In the model, which treats the membrane as a capacitor and ion channels as resistors, these changes in ionic conductance across the membrane cause a sudden and transient alteration of the transmembrane potential, i.e., the action potential, which is then carried forward and spreads over long(er) distances by means of both active and passive conduction dependent on local current flow by diffusion of Na+ ion in the neuronal cytoplasm. However, although highly successful in predicting and explaining many of the electric characteristics of the action potential, the HH model, nevertheless cannot accommodate the various non-electrical physical manifestations (mechanical, thermal and optical changes) that accompany action potential propagation, and for which there is ample experimental evidence. As such, the electrical conception of neuronal excitability appears to be incomplete and alternatives, aiming to improve, extend or even replace it, have been sought for. Commonly misunderstood as to their basic premises and the physical principles they are built on, and mistakenly perceived as a threat to the generally acknowledged explanatory power of the "classical" HH framework, these attempts to present a more complete picture of neuronal physiology, have met with fierce opposition from mainstream neuroscience and, as a consequence, currently remain underdeveloped and insufficiently tested. Here we present our perspective that this may be an unfortunate state of affairs as these different biophysics-informed approaches to incorporate also non-electrical signs of the action potential into the modeling and explanation of the nerve signal, in our view, are well suited to foster a new, more complete and better integrated understanding of the (multi)physical nature of neuronal excitability and signal transport and, hence, of neuronal function. In doing so, we will emphasize attempts to derive the different physical manifestations of the action potential from one common, macroscopic thermodynamics-based, framework treating the multiphysics of the nerve signal as the inevitable result of the collective material, i.e., physico-chemical, properties of the lipid bilayer neuronal membrane (in particular, the axolemma) and/or the so-called ectoplasm or membrane skeleton consisting of cytoskeletal protein polymers, in particular, actin fibrils. Potential consequences for our view of action potential physiology and role in neuronal function are identified and discussed.

Estimating axon radius using diffusion-relaxation MRI: calibrating a surface-based relaxation model with histology

Axon radius is a potential biomarker for brain diseases and a crucial tissue microstructure parameter that determines the speed of action potentials. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) allows non-invasive estimation of axon radius, but accurately estimating the radius of axons in the human brain is challenging. Most axons in the brain have a radius below one micrometer, which falls below the sensitivity limit of dMRI signals even when using the most advanced human MRI scanners. Therefore, new MRI methods that are sensitive to small axon radii are needed. In this proof-of-concept investigation, we examine whether a surface-based axonal relaxation process could mediate a relationship between intra-axonal T2 and T1 times and inner axon radius, as measured using postmortem histology. A unique in vivo human diffusion-T1-T2 relaxation dataset was acquired on a 3T MRI scanner with ultra-strong diffusion gradients, using a strong diffusion-weighting (i.e., b = 6,000 s/mm2) and multiple inversion and echo times. A second reduced diffusion-T2 dataset was collected at various echo times to evaluate the model further. The intra-axonal relaxation times were estimated by fitting a diffusion-relaxation model to the orientation-averaged spherical mean signals. Our analysis revealed that the proposed surface-based relaxation model effectively explains the relationship between the estimated relaxation times and the histological axon radius measured in various corpus callosum regions. Using these histological values, we developed a novel calibration approach to predict axon radius in other areas of the corpus callosum. Notably, the predicted radii and those determined from histological measurements were in close agreement.

The role of mechanics in axonal stability and development

Much of the focus of neuronal cell biology has been devoted to growth cone guidance, synaptogenesis, synaptic activity, plasticity, etc. The axonal shaft too has received much attention, mainly for its astounding ability to transmit action potentials and the transport of material over long distances. For these functions, the axonal cytoskeleton and membrane have been often assumed to play static structural roles. Recent experiments have changed this view by revealing an ultrastructure much richer in features than previously perceived and one that seems to be maintained at a dynamic steady state. The role of mechanics in this is only beginning to be broadly appreciated and appears to involve passive and active modes of coupling different biopolymer filaments, filament turnover dynamics and membrane biophysics. Axons, being unique cellular processes in terms of high aspect ratios and often extreme lengths, also exhibit unique passive mechanical properties that might have evolved to stabilize them under mechanical stress. In this review, we summarize the experiments that have exposed some of these features. It is our view that axonal mechanics deserves much more attention not only due to its significance in the development and maintenance of the nervous system but also due to the susceptibility of axons to injury and neurodegeneration.

Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy links pathological myelin outfoldings to axonal changes in mice lacking Plp1 or Mag

Healthy myelin sheaths consist of multiple compacted membrane layers closely encasing the underlying axon. The ultrastructure of CNS myelin requires specialized structural myelin proteins, including the transmembrane-tetraspan proteolipid protein (PLP) and the Ig-CAM myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). To better understand their functional relevance, we asked to what extent the axon/myelin-units display similar morphological changes if PLP or MAG are lacking. We thus used focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to re-investigate axon/myelin-units side-by-side in Plp- and Mag-null mutant mice. By three-dimensional reconstruction and morphometric analyses, pathological myelin outfoldings extend up to 10 μm longitudinally along myelinated axons in both models. More than half of all assessed outfoldings emerge from internodal myelin. Unexpectedly, three-dimensional reconstructions demonstrated that both models displayed complex axonal pathology underneath the myelin outfoldings, including axonal sprouting. Axonal anastomosing was additionally observed in Plp-null mutant mice. Importantly, normal-appearing axon/myelin-units displayed significantly increased axonal diameters in both models according to quantitative assessment of electron micrographs. These results imply that healthy CNS myelin sheaths facilitate normal axonal diameters and shape, a function that is impaired when structural myelin proteins PLP or MAG are lacking.

Remodelling of myelinated axons and oligodendrocyte differentiation is stimulated by environmental enrichment in the young adult brain

Oligodendrocyte production and myelination continues lifelong in the central nervous system (CNS), and all stages of this process can be adaptively regulated by neuronal activity. While artificial exogenous stimulation of neuronal circuits greatly enhances oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) production and increases myelination during development, the extent to which physiological stimuli replicates this is unclear, particularly in the adult CNS when the rate of new myelin addition slows. Here, we used environmental enrichment (EE) to physiologically stimulate neuronal activity for 6 weeks in 9-week-old C57BL/six male and female mice and found no increase in compact myelin in the corpus callosum or somatosensory cortex. Instead, we observed a global increase in callosal axon diameter with thicker myelin sheaths, elongated paranodes and shortened nodes of Ranvier. These findings indicate that EE induced the dynamic structural remodelling of myelinated axons. Additionally, we observed a global increase in the differentiation of OPCs and pre-myelinating oligodendroglia in the corpus callosum and somatosensory cortex. Our findings of structural remodelling of myelinated axons in response to physiological neural stimuli during young adulthood provide important insights in understanding experience-dependent myelin plasticity throughout the lifespan and provide a platform to investigate axon-myelin interactions in a physiologically relevant context.

Age-dependent increase of cytoskeletal components in sensory axons in human skin

Aging is a complex process characterized by several molecular and cellular imbalances. The composition and stability of the neuronal cytoskeleton is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis, especially in long neurites. Using human skin biopsies containing sensory axons from a cohort of healthy individuals, we investigate alterations in cytoskeletal content and sensory axon caliber during aging via quantitative immunostainings. Cytoskeletal components show an increase with aging in both sexes, while elevation in axon diameter is only evident in males. Transcriptomic data from aging males illustrate various patterns in gene expression during aging. Together, the data suggest gender-specific changes during aging in peripheral sensory axons, possibly influencing cytoskeletal functionality and axonal caliber. These changes may cumulatively increase susceptibility of aged individuals to neurodegenerative diseases.

The core PCP protein Prickle2 regulates axon number and AIS maturation by binding to AnkG and modulating microtubule bundling

Core planar cell polarity (PCP) genes, which are involved in various neurodevelopmental disorders such as neural tube closure, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorder, have poorly defined molecular signatures in neurons, mostly synapse-centric. Here, we show that the core PCP protein Prickle-like protein 2 (Prickle2) controls neuronal polarity and is a previously unidentified member of the axonal initial segment (AIS) proteome. We found that Prickle2 is present and colocalizes with AnkG480, the AIS master organizer, in the earliest stages of axonal specification and AIS formation. Furthermore, by binding to and regulating AnkG480, Prickle2 modulates its ability to bundle microtubules, a crucial mechanism for establishing neuronal polarity and AIS formation. Prickle2 depletion alters cytoskeleton organization, and Prickle2 levels determine both axon number and AIS maturation. Last, early Prickle2 depletion produces impaired action potential firing.

Dark Rearing in the Visual Critical Period Causes Structural Changes in Myelinated Axons in the Adult Mouse Visual Pathway

An appropriate sensory experience during the early developmental period is important for brain maturation. Dark rearing during the visual critical period delays the maturation of neuronal circuits in the visual cortex. Although the formation and structural plasticity of the myelin sheaths on retinal ganglion cell axons modulate the visual function, the effects of dark rearing during the visual critical period on the structure of the retinal ganglion cell axons and their myelin sheaths are still unclear. To address this question, mice were reared in a dark box during the visual critical period and then normally reared to adulthood. We found that myelin sheaths on the retinal ganglion cell axons of dark-reared mice were thicker than those of normally reared mice in both the optic chiasm and optic nerve. Furthermore, whole-mount immunostaining with fluorescent axonal labeling and tissue clearing revealed that the myelin internodal length in dark-reared mice was shorter than that in normally reared mice in both the optic chiasm and optic nerve. These findings demonstrate that dark rearing during the visual critical period affects the morphology of myelin sheaths, shortens and thickens myelin sheaths in the visual pathway, despite the mice being reared in normal light/dark conditions after the dark rearing.

Bidirectional flow of action potentials in axons drives activity dynamics in neuronal cultures

Objective. Recent technological advances are revealing the complex physiology of the axon and challenging long-standing assumptions. Namely, while most action potential (AP) initiation occurs at the axon initial segment in central nervous system neurons, initiation in distal parts of the axon has been reported to occur in both physiological and pathological conditions. The functional role of these ectopic APs, if exists, is still not clear, nor its impact on network activity dynamics.Approach. Using an electrophysiology platform specifically designed for assessing axonal conduction we show here for the first time regular and effective bidirectional axonal conduction in hippocampal and dorsal root ganglia cultures. We investigate and characterize this bidirectional propagation both in physiological conditions and after distal axotomy.Main results.A significant fraction of APs are not coming from the canonical synapse-dendrite-soma signal flow, but instead from signals originating at the distal axon. Importantly, antidromic APs may carry information and can have a functional impact on the neuron, as they consistently depolarize the soma. Thus, plasticity or gene transduction mechanisms triggered by soma depolarization can also be affected by these antidromic APs. Conduction velocity is asymmetrical, with antidromic conduction being slower than orthodromic.Significance.Altogether these findings have important implications for the study of neuronal functionin vitro, reshaping our understanding on how information flows in neuronal cultures.

A model of tension-induced fiber growth predicts white matter organization during brain folding

The past decade has experienced renewed interest in the physical processes that fold the developing cerebral cortex. Biomechanical models and experiments suggest that growth of the cortex, outpacing growth of underlying subcortical tissue (prospective white matter), is sufficient to induce folding. However, current models do not explain the well-established links between white matter organization and fold morphology, nor do they consider subcortical remodeling that occurs during the period of folding. Here we propose a framework by which cortical folding may induce subcortical fiber growth and organization. Simulations incorporating stress-induced fiber elongation indicate that subcortical stresses resulting from folding are sufficient to induce stereotyped fiber organization beneath gyri and sulci. Model predictions are supported by high-resolution ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging of the developing rhesus macaque brain. Together, results provide support for the theory of cortical growth-induced folding and indicate that mechanical feedback plays a significant role in brain connectivity.

Axonal spheroids in neurodegeneration

Axonal spheroids are bubble-like biological features that form on most degenerating axons, yet little is known about their influence on degenerative processes. Their formation and growth has been observed in response to various degenerative triggers such as injury, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and neurotoxic molecules. They often contain cytoskeletal elements and organelles, and, depending on the pathological insult, can colocalize with disease-related proteins such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), ubiquitin, and motor proteins. Initial formation of axonal spheroids depends on the disruption of axonal and membrane tension governed by cytoskeleton structure and calcium levels. Shortly after spheroid formation, the engulfment signal phosphatidylserine (PS) is exposed on the outer leaflet of spheroid plasma membrane, suggesting an important role for axonal spheroids in phagocytosis and debris clearance during degeneration. Spheroids can grow until they rupture, allowing pro-degenerative factors to exit the axon into extracellular space and accelerating neurodegeneration. Though much remains to be discovered in this area, axonal spheroid research promises to lend insight into the etiologies of neurodegenerative disease, and may be an important target for therapeutic intervention. This review summarizes over 100 years of work, describing what is known about axonal spheroid structure, regulation and function.

Brain and Breast Cancer Cells with PTEN Loss of Function Reveal Enhanced Durotaxis and RHOB Dependent Amoeboid Migration Utilizing 3D Scaffolds and Aligned Microfiber Tracts

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with PTEN mutations often lead to brain dissemination with poor patient outcome, thus new therapeutic targets are needed. To understand signaling, controlling the dynamics and mechanics of brain tumor cell migration, we implemented GBM and TNBC cell lines and designed 3D aligned microfibers and scaffolds mimicking brain structures.

METHODS

3D microfibers and scaffolds were printed using melt electrowriting. GBM and TNBC cell lines with opposing PTEN genotypes were analyzed with RHO-ROCK-PTEN inhibitors and PTEN rescue using live-cell imaging. RNA-sequencing and qPCR of tumor cells in 3D with microfibers were performed, while scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy addressed cell morphology.

RESULTS

In contrast to the PTEN wildtype, GBM and TNBC cells with PTEN loss of function yielded enhanced durotaxis, topotaxis, adhesion, amoeboid migration on 3D microfibers and significant high RHOB expression. Functional studies concerning RHOB-ROCK-PTEN signaling confirmed the essential role for the above cellular processes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a significant role of the PTEN genotype and RHOB expression for durotaxis, adhesion and migration dependent on 3D. GBM and TNBC cells with PTEN loss of function have an affinity for stiff brain structures promoting metastasis. 3D microfibers represent an important tool to model brain metastasizing tumor cells, where RHO-inhibitors could play an essential role for improved therapy.

Active elasticity drives the formation of periodic beading in damaged axons

In several pathological conditions, such as coronavirus infections, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, the physiological shape of axons is altered and a periodic sequence of bulges appears. Experimental evidences suggest that such morphological changes are caused by the disruption of the microtubules composing the cytoskeleton of the axon. In this paper, we develop a mathematical model of damaged axons based on the theory of continuum mechanics and nonlinear elasticity. The axon is described as a cylinder composed of an inner passive part, called axoplasm, and an outer active cortex, composed mainly of F-actin and able to contract thanks to myosin-II motors. Through a linear stability analysis we show that, as the shear modulus of the axoplasm diminishes due to the disruption of the cytoskeleton, the active contraction of the cortex makes the cylindrical configuration unstable to axisymmetric perturbations, leading to a beading pattern. Finally, the nonlinear evolution of the bifurcated branches is investigated through finite element simulations.

Sensory-specific peripheral nerve pathology in a rat model of Fabry disease

Fabry disease (FD) causes life-long pain, the mechanisms of which are unclear. Patients with FD have chronic pain that mirrors symptoms of other painful peripheral neuropathies. However, it is unclear what underlying damage occurs in FD peripheral nerves that may contribute to chronic pain. Here, we characterized myelinated and unmyelinated fiber pathology in peripheral nerves of a rat model of FD. Decreased nerve fiber density and increased nerve fiber pathology were noted in unmyelinated and myelinated fibers from FD rats; both observations were dependent on sampled nerve fiber modality and anatomical location. FD myelinated axons exhibited lipid accumulations that were determined to be the FD-associated lipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), and to a lesser extent lysosomes. These findings suggest that axonal Gb3 accumulation may drive peripheral neuron dysfunction and subsequent pain in FD.

Morphological basis of radial nerve dysfunction in newborns differs from that of no radial nerve dysfunction in adults in C5-C6-C7 injuries to the brachial plexus: a cadaveric study

OBJECTIVE

Injuries to the upper and middle trunks of brachial plexus result in dysfunction of radial nerves in newborns but do not in adults. We hypothesized that the radial nerve had a lower proportion of myelinated nerve fibers (MNFs) from the lower trunk in newborns than in adults, and in newborns those MNFs were less developed than MNFs in the radial nerve from the middle and upper trunks.

METHODS

We dissected bilateral brachial plexus of six newborn and six adult cadavers. The radial nerve and its fascicles were separated proximally to posterior divisions of the upper, middle and lower trunks, and fascicles of the radial nerve were harvested from three trunks to calculate respective percentage of MNFs accounting for the total number of MNFs in the radial nerve. We determined diameters of axons and g-ratios of MNFs in the radial nerve from three trunks.

RESULTS

Compared with adults, the percentage of MNFs in the radial nerve from the lower trunk was lower (p < 0.05), from the middle trunk higher (p < 0.05) and from the upper trunk similar (p > 0.05) in newborns, though MNF counts from three trunks were higher in newborns, respectively (p < 0.01, all). In newborns, MNFs in the radial nerve from the lower trunk had smaller axonal diameters and higher g-ratios than those from the middle and upper trunks (p < 0.017, all), while in adults there were no such differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower proportion of MNFs in the radial nerve from the lower trunk in newborns than in adults, and in newborns immaturity of MNFs from the lower trunk relative to MNFs from the middle and upper trunks may be the major morphological basis of difference in clinical appearances of radial nerve palsy caused by injuries to C5-C6-C7 between newborns and adults.

Cerebral White Matter Myelination and Relations to Age, Gender, and Cognition: A Selective Review

White matter makes up about fifty percent of the human brain. Maturation of white matter accompanies biological development and undergoes the most dramatic changes during childhood and adolescence. Despite the advances in neuroimaging techniques, controversy concerning spatial, and temporal patterns of myelination, as well as the degree to which the microstructural characteristics of white matter can vary in a healthy brain as a function of age, gender and cognitive abilities still exists. In a selective review we describe methods of assessing myelination and evaluate effects of age and gender in nine major fiber tracts, highlighting their role in higher-order cognitive functions. Our findings suggests that myelination indices vary by age, fiber tract, and hemisphere. Effects of gender were also identified, although some attribute differences to methodological factors or social and learning opportunities. Findings point to further directions of research that will improve our understanding of the complex myelination-behavior relation across development that may have implications for educational and clinical practice.

Purkinje cell axonal swellings enhance action potential fidelity and cerebellar function

Axonal plasticity allows neurons to control their output, which critically determines the flow of information in the brain. Axon diameter can be regulated by activity, yet how morphological changes in an axon impact its function remains poorly understood. Axonal swellings have been found on Purkinje cell axons in the cerebellum both in healthy development and in neurodegenerative diseases, and computational models predicts that axonal swellings impair axonal function. Here we report that in young Purkinje cells, axons with swellings propagated action potentials with higher fidelity than those without, and that axonal swellings form when axonal failures are high. Furthermore, we observed that healthy young adult mice with more axonal swellings learn better on cerebellar-related tasks than mice with fewer swellings. Our findings suggest that axonal swellings underlie a form of axonal plasticity that optimizes the fidelity of action potential propagation in axons, resulting in enhanced learning.

Sialometabolism in Brain Health and Alzheimer's Disease

Sialic acids refer to a unique family of acidic sugars with a 9-carbon backbone that are mostly found as terminal residues in glycan structures of glycoconjugates including both glycoproteins and glycolipids. The highest levels of sialic acids are expressed in the brain where they regulate neuronal sprouting and plasticity, axon myelination and myelin stability, as well as remodeling of mature neuronal connections. Moreover, sialic acids are the sole ligands for microglial Siglecs (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins), and sialic acid-Siglec interactions have been indicated to play a critical role in the regulation of microglial homeostasis in a healthy brain. The recent discovery of CD33, a microglial Siglec, as a novel genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), highlights the potential role of sialic acids in the development of microglial dysfunction and neuroinflammation in AD. Apart from microglia, sialic acids have been found to be involved in several other major changes associated with AD. Elevated levels of serum sialic acids have been reported in AD patients. Alterations in ganglioside (major sialic acid carrier) metabolism have been demonstrated as an aggravating factor in the formation of amyloid pathology in AD. Polysialic acids are linear homopolymers of sialic acids and have been implicated to be an important regulator of neurogenesis that contributes to neuronal repair and recovery from neurodegeneration such as in AD. In summary, this article reviews current understanding of neural functions of sialic acids and alterations of sialometabolism in aging and AD brains. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of looking at sialic acids as a promising novel therapeutic target for AD intervention.

Mechanical behavior of actin and spectrin subjected to high strain rate: A molecular dynamics simulation study

Recent nanoscopy and super-resolution microscopy studies have substantiated the structural contribution of periodic actin-spectrin lattice to the axonal cytoskeleton of neuron. However, sufficient mechanical insight is not present for spectrin and actin-spectrin network, especially in high strain rate scenario. To quantify the mechanical behavior of actin-spectrin cytoskeleton in such conditions, this study determines individual stretching characteristics of actin and spectrin at high strain rate by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The actin-spectrin separation criteria are also determined. It is found that both actin and spectrin have high stiffness when susceptible to high strain rate and show strong dependence on applied strain rate. The stretching stiffness of actin and forced unfolding mechanism of spectrin are in harmony with the current literature. Actin-spectrin model provides novel insight into their interaction and separation stretch. It is shown that the region vulnerable to failure is the actin-spectrin interface at lower strain rate, while it is the inter-repeat region of spectrin at higher strain rate.

Cytoskeletal organization of axons in vertebrates and invertebrates

The maintenance of axons for the lifetime of an organism requires an axonal cytoskeleton that is robust but also flexible to adapt to mechanical challenges and to support plastic changes of axon morphology. Furthermore, cytoskeletal organization has to adapt to axons of dramatically different dimensions, and to their compartment-specific requirements in the axon initial segment, in the axon shaft, at synapses or in growth cones. To understand how the cytoskeleton caters to these different demands, this review summarizes five decades of electron microscopic studies. It focuses on the organization of microtubules and neurofilaments in axon shafts in both vertebrate and invertebrate neurons, as well as the axon initial segments of vertebrate motor- and interneurons. Findings from these ultrastructural studies are being interpreted here on the basis of our contemporary molecular understanding. They strongly suggest that axon architecture in animals as diverse as arthropods and vertebrates is dependent on loosely cross-linked bundles of microtubules running all along axons, with only minor roles played by neurofilaments.

The Influence of Acute SSRI Administration on White Matter Microstructure in Patients Suffering From Major Depressive Disorder and Healthy Controls

BACKGROUND

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are predominantly prescribed for people suffering from major depressive disorder. These antidepressants exert their effects by blocking the serotonin transporter (SERT), leading to increased levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft and subsequently to an attenuation of depressive symptoms and elevation in mood. Although long-term studies investigating white matter (WM) alterations after exposure to antidepressant treatment exist, results on the acute effects on the brain's WM microstructure are lacking.

METHODS

In this interventional longitudinal study, 81 participants were included (33 patients and 48 healthy controls). All participants underwent diffusion weighted imaging on 2 separate days, receiving either citalopram or placebo using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. Fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were calculated within the FMRIB software library and analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics.

RESULTS

The repeated-measures ANOVA model revealed significant decreases after SSRI administration in mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity regardless of the group (P < .05, family-wise error [FWE] corrected). Results were predominantly evident in frontal WM regions comprising the anterior corona radiata, corpus callosum, and external capsule and in distinct areas of the frontal blade. No increases in diffusivity were found, and no changes in fractional anisotropy were present.

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation provides the first evidence, to our knowledge, that fast WM microstructure adaptations within 1 hour after i.v. SSRI administration precede elevations in mood due to SSRI treatment. These results add a new facet to the complex mode of action of antidepressant therapy. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT02711215.

Axon morphology is modulated by the local environment and impacts the noninvasive investigation of its structure-function relationship

Axonal conduction velocity, which ensures efficient function of the brain network, is related to axon diameter. Noninvasive, in vivo axon diameter estimates can be made with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, but the technique requires three-dimensional (3D) validation. Here, high-resolution, 3D synchrotron X-ray nano-holotomography images of white matter samples from the corpus callosum of a monkey brain reveal that blood vessels, cells, and vacuoles affect axonal diameter and trajectory. Within single axons, we find that the variation in diameter and conduction velocity correlates with the mean diameter, contesting the value of precise diameter determination in larger axons. These complex 3D axon morphologies drive previously reported 2D trends in axon diameter and g-ratio. Furthermore, we find that these morphologies bias the estimates of axon diameter with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and, ultimately, impact the investigation and formulation of the axon structure-function relationship.

Myelination of Callosal Axons Is Hampered by Early and Late Forelimb Amputation in Rats

Deafferentation is an important determinant of plastic changes in the CNS, which consists of a loss of inputs from the body periphery or from the CNS itself. Although cortical reorganization has been well documented, white matter plasticity was less explored. Our goal was to investigate microstructural interhemispheric connectivity changes in early and late amputated rats. For that purpose, we employed diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, as well as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy of sections of the white matter tracts to analyze the microstructural changes in the corticospinal tract and in the corpus callosum (CC) sector that contains somatosensory fibers integrating cortical areas representing the forelimbs and compare differences in rats undergoing forelimb amputation as neonates, with those amputated as adults. Results showed that early amputation induced decreased fractional anisotropy values and reduction of total myelin amount in the cerebral peduncle contralateral to the amputation. Both early and late forelimb amputations induced decreased myelination of callosal fibers. While early amputation affected myelination of thinner axons, late amputation disrupted axons of all calibers. Since the CC provides a modulation of inhibition and excitation between the hemispheres, we suggest that the demyelination observed among callosal fibers may misbalance this modulation.

Axonal mRNA translation in neurological disorders

It is increasingly recognized that local protein synthesis (LPS) contributes to fundamental aspects of axon biology, in both developing and mature neurons. Mutations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), as central players in LPS, and other proteins affecting RNA localization and translation are associated with a range of neurological disorders, suggesting disruption of LPS may be of pathological significance. In this review, we substantiate this hypothesis by examining the link between LPS and key axonal processes, and the implicated pathophysiological consequences of dysregulated LPS. First, we describe how the length and autonomy of axons result in an exceptional reliance on LPS. We next discuss the roles of LPS in maintaining axonal structural and functional polarity and axonal trafficking. We then consider how LPS facilitates the establishment of neuronal connectivity through regulation of axonal branching and pruning, how it mediates axonal survival into adulthood and its involvement in neuronal stress responses.

Non-Muscle Myosin II in Axonal Cell Biology: From the Growth Cone to the Axon Initial Segment

By binding to actin filaments, non-muscle myosin II (NMII) generates actomyosin networks that hold unique contractile properties. Their dynamic nature is essential for neuronal biology including the establishment of polarity, growth cone formation and motility, axon growth during development (and axon regeneration in the adult), radial and longitudinal axonal tension, and synapse formation and function. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on the spatial distribution and function of the actomyosin cytoskeleton in different axonal compartments. We highlight some of the apparent contradictions and open questions in the field, including the role of NMII in the regulation of axon growth and regeneration, the possibility that NMII structural arrangement along the axon shaft may control both radial and longitudinal contractility, and the mechanism and functional purpose underlying NMII enrichment in the axon initial segment. With the advances in live cell imaging and super resolution microscopy, it is expected that in the near future the spatial distribution of NMII in the axon, and the mechanisms by which it participates in axonal biology will be further untangled.

Conventional and Non-Conventional Roles of Non-Muscle Myosin II-Actin in Neuronal Development and Degeneration

Myosins are motor proteins that use chemical energy to produce mechanical forces driving actin cytoskeletal dynamics. In the brain, the conventional non-muscle myosin II (NMII) regulates actin filament cytoskeletal assembly and contractile forces during structural remodeling of axons and dendrites, contributing to morphology, polarization, and migration of neurons during brain development. NMII isoforms also participate in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity by driving actin cytoskeletal dynamics during synaptic vesicle release and retrieval, and formation, maturation, and remodeling of dendritic spines. NMIIs are expressed differentially in cerebral non-neuronal cells, such as microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells, wherein they play key functions in inflammation, myelination, and repair. Besides major efforts to understand the physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms of NMIIs in the nervous system, their contributions to brain pathologies are still largely unclear. Nonetheless, genetic mutations or deregulation of NMII and its regulatory effectors are linked to autism, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and neurodegeneration, indicating non-conventional roles of NMIIs in cellular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we summarize the emerging biological roles of NMIIs in the brain, and discuss how actomyosin signaling contributes to dysfunction of neurons and glial cells in the context of neurological disorders. This knowledge is relevant for a deep understanding of NMIIs on the pathogenesis and therapeutics of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

Theoretical relation between axon initial segment geometry and excitability

In most vertebrate neurons, action potentials are triggered at the distal end of the axon initial segment (AIS). Both position and length of the AIS vary across and within neuron types, with activity, development and pathology. What is the impact of AIS geometry on excitability? Direct empirical assessment has proven difficult because of the many potential confounding factors. Here, we carried a principled theoretical analysis to answer this question. We provide a simple formula relating AIS geometry and sodium conductance density to the somatic voltage threshold. A distal shift of the AIS normally produces a (modest) increase in excitability, but we explain how this pattern can reverse if a hyperpolarizing current is present at the AIS, due to resistive coupling with the soma. This work provides a theoretical tool to assess the significance of structural AIS plasticity for electrical function.

The membrane periodic skeleton is an actomyosin network that regulates axonal diameter and conduction

Neurons have a membrane periodic skeleton (MPS) composed of actin rings interconnected by spectrin. Here, combining chemical and genetic gain- and loss-of-function assays, we show that in rat hippocampal neurons the MPS is an actomyosin network that controls axonal expansion and contraction. Using super-resolution microscopy, we analyzed the localization of axonal non-muscle myosin II (NMII). We show that active NMII light chains are colocalized with actin rings and organized in a circular periodic manner throughout the axon shaft. In contrast, NMII heavy chains are mostly positioned along the longitudinal axonal axis, being able to crosslink adjacent rings. NMII filaments can play contractile or scaffolding roles determined by their position relative to actin rings and activation state. We also show that MPS destabilization through NMII inactivation affects axonal electrophysiology, increasing action potential conduction velocity. In summary, our findings open new perspectives on axon diameter regulation, with important implications in neuronal biology.

Mechanical Regulation of Neurite Polarization and Growth: A Computational Study

The densely packed microtubule (MT) array found in neuronal cell projections (neurites) serves two fundamental functions simultaneously: it provides a mechanically stable track for molecular motor-based transport and produces forces that drive neurite growth. The local pattern of MT polarity along the neurite shaft has been found to differ between axons and dendrites. In axons, the neurons' dominating long projections, roughly 90% of the MTs orient with their rapidly growing plus end away from the cell body, whereas in vertebrate dendrites, their orientations are locally mixed. Molecular motors are known to be responsible for cytoskeletal ordering and force generation, but their collective function in the dense MT cytoskeleton of neurites remains elusive. We here hypothesized that both the polarity pattern of MTs along the neurite shaft and the shaft's global extension are simultaneously driven by molecular motor forces and should thus be regulated by the mechanical load acting on the MT array as a whole. To investigate this, we simulated cylindrical bundles of MTs that are cross-linked and powered by molecular motors by iteratively solving a set of force-balance equations. The bundles were subjected to a fixed load arising from actively generated tension in the actomyosin cortex enveloping the MTs. The magnitude of the load and the level of motor-induced connectivity between the MTs have been varied systematically. With an increasing load and decreasing motor-induced connectivity between MTs, the bundles became wider in cross section and extended more slowly, and the local MT orientational order was reduced. These results reveal two, to our knowledge, novel mechanical factors that may underlie the distinctive development of the MT cytoskeleton in axons and dendrites: the cross-linking level of MTs by motors and the load acting on this cytoskeleton during growth.

A Three-Dimensional Statistical Volume Element for Histology Informed Micromechanical Modeling of Brain White Matter

This study presents a novel statistical volume element (SVE) for micromechanical modeling of the white matter structures, with histology-informed randomized distribution of axonal tracts within the extracellular matrix. The model was constructed based on the probability distribution functions obtained from the results of diffusion tensor imaging as well as the histological observations of scanning electron micrograph, at two structures of white matter susceptible to traumatic brain injury, i.e. corpus callosum and corona radiata. A simplistic representative volume element (RVE) with symmetrical arrangement of fully alligned axonal fibers was also created as a reference for comparison. A parametric study was conducted to find the optimum grid and edge size which ensured the periodicity and ergodicity of the SVE and RVE models. A multi-objective evolutionary optimization procedure was used to find the hyperelastic and viscoelastic material constants of the constituents, based on the experimentally reported responses of corpus callosum to axonal and transverse loadings. The optimal material properties were then used to predict the homogenized and localized responses of corpus callosum and corona radiata. The results indicated similar homogenized responses of the SVE and RVE under quasi-static extension, which were in good agreement with the experimental data. Under shear strain, however, the models exhibited different behaviors, with the SVE model showing much closer response to the experimental observations. Moreover, the SVE model displayed a significantly better agreement with the reports of the experiments at high strain rates. The results suggest that the randomized fiber architecture has a great influence on the validity of the micromechanical models of white matter, with a distinguished impact on the model's response to shear deformation and high strain rates. Moreover, it can provide a more detailed presentation of the localized responses of the tissue substructures, including the stress concentrations around the low caliber axonal tracts, which is critical for studying the axonal injury mechanisms.

Thinking About the Nerve Impulse: The Prospects for the Development of a Comprehensive Account of Nerve Impulse Propagation

Currently, a scientific debate is ongoing about modeling nerve impulse propagation. One of the models discussed is the celebrated Hodgkin-Huxley model of the action potential, which is central to the electricity-centered conception of the nerve impulse that dominates contemporary neuroscience. However, this model cannot represent the nerve impulse completely, since it does not take into account non-electrical manifestations of the nerve impulse for which there is ample experimental evidence. As a result, alternative models of nerve impulse propagation have been proposed in contemporary (neuro)scientific literature. One of these models is the Heimburg-Jackson model, according to which the nerve impulse is an electromechanical density pulse in the neural membrane. This model is usually contrasted with the Hodgkin-Huxley model and is supposed to potentially be able to replace the latter. However, instead of contrasting these models of nerve impulse propagation, another approach integrates these models in a general unifying model. This general unifying model, the Engelbrecht model, is developed to unify all relevant manifestations of the nerve impulse and their interaction(s). Here, we want to contribute to the debate about modeling nerve impulse propagation by conceptually analyzing the Engelbrecht model. Combining the results of this conceptual analysis with insights from philosophy of science, we make recommendations for the study of nerve impulse propagation. The first conclusion of this analysis is that attempts to develop models that represent the nerve impulse accurately and completely appear unfeasible. Instead, models are and should be used as tools to study nerve impulse propagation for varying purposes, representing the nerve impulse accurately and completely enough to achieve the specified goals. The second conclusion is that integrating distinct models into a general unifying model that provides a consistent picture of nerve impulse propagation is impossible due to the distinct purposes for which they are developed and the conflicting assumptions these purposes often require. Instead of explaining nerve impulse propagation with a single general unifying model, it appears advisable to explain this complex phenomenon using a ‘mosaic’ framework of models in which each model provides a partial explanation of nerve impulse propagation.

Myelin and Modeling: Bootstrapping Cortical Microcircuits

Histological studies of myelin-stained sectioned cadaver brain and in vivo myelin-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show that the cerebral cortex is organized into cortical areas with generally well-defined boundaries, which have consistent internal patterns of myelination. The process of myelination is largely driven by neural experience, in which the axonal passage of action potentials stimulates neighboring oligodendrocytes to perform their task. This bootstrapping process, such that the traffic of action potentials facilitates increased traffic, suggests the hypothesis that the specific pattern of myelination (myeloarchitecture) in each cortical area reveals the principal cortical microcircuits required for the function of that area. If this idea is correct, the observable sequential maturation of specific brain areas can provide evidence for models of the stages of cognitive development.