The mechanical sensitivity of vesicle dynamics in in vivo and in vitro neurons

W. W. Ahmed, T. C. Li, S. S. Rubakhin, A. Chiba, J. V. Sweedler, T. A. Saif

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Axonal tension exists in neurons and may be involved in neuronal signaling. We study the effect of mechanical strain on the dynamics of vesicles in in vivo Drosophila motor neurons and in vitro Aplysia neurons. Neurons are stretched or compressed while observing vesicle dynamics by high-resolution live-imaging. In response to mechanical stretch we observe the dynamic accumulation of synaptic vesicles at the in vivo neuromuscular junction (NMJ) after approximately 50 min. Vesicle accumulation at the NMJ persists for at least 30 min after stretch is removed. In response to compression we observe disruption of vesicle dynamics in in vitro growth cones. Range and processivity of vesicle motion decrease immediately after applied compression and do not recover for at least 20 min after compression is removed. Through live-imaging this study shows that mechanical stretch promotes vesicle clustering in in vivo synapses, and compression impedes vesicle transport in in vitro growth cones.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTechnical Proceedings of the 2011 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2011
Pages436-439
Number of pages4
StatePublished - Nov 23 2011
EventNanotechnology 2011: Electronics, Devices, Fabrication, MEMS, Fluidics and Computational - 2011 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2011 - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Jun 13 2011 → Jun 16 2011

Publication series

NameTechnical Proceedings of the 2011 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2011
Volume3

Other

OtherNanotechnology 2011: Electronics, Devices, Fabrication, MEMS, Fluidics and Computational - 2011 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2011
CountryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period6/13/11 → 6/16/11

Keywords

  • In vitro
  • In vivo
  • Mechanical strain
  • Neuron
  • Vesicle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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    Ahmed, W. W., Li, T. C., Rubakhin, S. S., Chiba, A., Sweedler, J. V., & Saif, T. A. (2011). The mechanical sensitivity of vesicle dynamics in in vivo and in vitro neurons. In Technical Proceedings of the 2011 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2011 (pp. 436-439). (Technical Proceedings of the 2011 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Expo, NSTI-Nanotech 2011; Vol. 3).