New research has call into question the traditional understanding of axons, the message-sending fibres of neurons, suggesting that these structures may not always be smooth and cylindrical.
A study publish on 2nd December 2024 in Nature Neuroscience observe that axons can resemble strings of beads rather than uniform lines.
This discovery was made by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine using a high-pressure freezing method for imaging axons from mouse brains.
According to Dr Shigeki Watanabe, a cell biologist and neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins, traditional preservation techniques often alter the shape of tissues, leading to discrepancies in observations.
As per a report, Dr Shigeki Watanabe explain that the freezing method they employe better preserves the natural structure, likening the process to freezing grapes instead of drying them into raisins.
Electron microscopy reveal rotund blobs connect by thin tubes, a feature not previously studied systematically.
As per report, the beaded structure of axons, also known as nanoscopic varicosities, was explain by Dr Shigeki Watanabe as a result of physical mechanics.
Creating this shape requires less energy than maintaining a smooth cylindrical structure.
Researchers believe that the shape of axons might influence the speed of signal transmission and vice versa.
Preliminary data also suggest that myelinated axons, which are coat in insulating material, may exhibit similar patterns.
Pramod Pullarkat, a physicist from the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru, express caution regarding these findings.
In his statement, Pramod Pullarkat emphasise that while the data is compelling, more evidence is need to confirm this phenomenon across different conditions.
Pramod Pullarkat highlight that axons grown in laboratory settings often appear smooth, which raises questions about whether the observe structures are a subset or artefacts of the imaging process.
These studies are plan to investigate whether these beaded axons are influence by factors such as sleep or other changes in the brain’s environment.
Researchers aim to explore axonal structures in living brains to verify these findings and understand their broader implications.
