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SUMMARY:The mechanical control of neuronal growth in the developing brain 
 - dr Kristian Franze
DTSTART:20150130T160000Z
DTEND:20150130T170000Z
UID:TALK57055@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Anna Walczyk
DESCRIPTION:During the development of the nervous system\, neurons migrate
  and grow over great distances. During these processes\, they are exposed 
 to a multitude of signals determining their speed and direction. Currently
 \, our understanding of neuronal development is\, in large part\, based on
  studies of biochemical signaling. Despite the fact that forces are involv
 ed in any kind of cell motion\, mechanical aspects have so far rarely been
  considered. Here we used deformable cell culture substrates\, traction fo
 rce microscopy and calcium imaging to investigate how neurons respond to t
 heir mechanical environment. Axonal growth speed\, directionality\, and fa
 sciculation\, i.e.\, their tendency to grow in bundles\, all significantly
  depended on substrate stiffness.  Moreover\, when grown on substrates inc
 orporating linear stiffness gradients\, axon bundles were repelled by stif
 f substrates. Calcium influxes through the activation of stretch-activated
  ion channels appear to be involved in neuronal mechanosensitivity. In viv
 o atomic force microscopy measurements revealed stiffness gradients in dev
 eloping brain tissue\, and showed that axons follow a soft pathway in vivo
 . Interference with brain stiffness and mechanosensitive ion channels sugg
 est that mechanical signaling is involved in neuronal pathfinding in vivo 
 and constitutes a formerly unknown control mechanism of axon growth. 
LOCATION: Cambridge University Engineering Department\, Lecture Room 6
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