Theory for Durotactic Axon Guidance
Oliveri H, Franze K, Goriely A (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 126
Article Number: 118101
Journal Issue: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.118101
Abstract
During the development of the nervous system, neurons extend bundles of axons that grow and meet other neurons to form the neuronal network. Robust guidance mechanisms are needed for these bundles to migrate and reach their functional target. Directional information depends on external cues such as chemical or mechanical gradients. Unlike chemotaxis that has been extensively studied, the role and mechanism of durotaxis, the directed response to variations in substrate rigidity, remain unclear. We model bundle migration and guidance by rigidity gradients by using the theory of morphoelastic rods. We show that, at a rigidity interface, the motion of axon bundles follows a simple behavior analogous to optic ray theory and obeys Snell's law for refraction and reflection. We use this powerful analogy to demonstrate that axons can be guided by the equivalent of optical lenses and fibers created by regions of different stiffnesses.
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APA:
Oliveri, H., Franze, K., & Goriely, A. (2021). Theory for Durotactic Axon Guidance. Physical Review Letters, 126(11). https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.118101
MLA:
Oliveri, Hadrien, Kristian Franze, and Alain Goriely. "Theory for Durotactic Axon Guidance." Physical Review Letters 126.11 (2021).
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