Imaging the mechanisms of axon stretch growth

J. R. Loverde, V. C. Ozoka, R. Aquino, R. T. Tolentino, L. Lin, B. J. Pfister

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The transition from embryo to adulthood involves a massive growth in the nervous system where axons in nerves extend and expand to accommodate to this growth. Applying mechanical forces to dorsal root ganglia neuronal cultures has previously shown that there is stimulation in axonal growth, gradually elongating the axon over a set period of time. In this research, the main focus is to study with live imaging how natural biomechanical forces, associated with growth of an organism, initiate unique neurobiological mechanisms that help drive the formation of long nerves. For this purpose, a bioreactor was developed for live imaging of stretch-growth as it occurs on the stage of a microscope. The bioreactor is independent from an incubator with external temperature controller and heating system regulated its physiological conditions. Morphology changes and cytoskeletal transport were captured live at magnifications up to 60x over weeks of culturing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2010 IEEE 36th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, NEBEC 2010
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Event36th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, NEBEC 2010 - New York, NY, United States
Duration: Mar 26 2010Mar 28 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 2010 IEEE 36th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, NEBEC 2010

Other

Other36th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, NEBEC 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York, NY
Period3/26/103/28/10

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Bioengineering

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