> Physiology > Cell Function > Axonal Transport

Axonal Transport

Axonal Transport is the process by which materials are moved along the length of a neuron's axon.
This bidirectional transport system is essential for the growth, maintenance, and function of neurons.
It involves the movement of organelles, proteins, and other cellular components both towards (anterograde) and away from (retrograde) the cell body.
Disturbances in axonal transport have been implicated in various neurological disorders, making it an important area of research.
Understanding the mechanisms and regulation of this crucial process can provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases and lead to the development of more effective treatments.

Most cited protocols related to «Axonal Transport»

Retrograde Labeling of Corticospinal and Callosal Projection Neurons

CSMN were retrogradely labeled via stereotactic FluoroGold injections (2% FG, 250 nl/mouse) into the cervical region (C4–C6) of the corticospinal tract within the dorsal funiculus of the spinal cord at distinct, phenotypically distinguishable times defined by others previously (Gurney et al., 1994 (link); Tu et al., 1996 (link); Hall et al., 1998 (link); Cleveland and Rothstein, 2001 (link); Wengenack et al., 2004 (link); Hegedus et al., 2007 (link)) postnatal day 20 (P20), “early”; P50, “symptomatic”; and P110, “end stage”. In a subset of experiments, mice injected at P50 were perfused at P120 to distinguish between genuine CSMN degeneration and potential appearance of reduced FG labeling due to defects in axonal transport (Fig. 1A, “#”). 10 days after FluoroGold injection, mice were deeply anesthetized and perfused with cold 0.1M PBS supplemented with heparin, followed by cold 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) in 0.1M PBS. To further investigate whether degeneration of other neocortical projection neurons with equivalently long axons (most notably, interhemispheric callosal projection neurons (CPN)) occurs, in a subset of experiments dual CPN and CSMN retrograde labeling was performed in hSOD1^G93A and WT mice at P30, and mice were perfused at P120. Callosal projection neurons (CPN) were retrogradely labeled via stereotactic injection of green fluorescent microspheres into contralateral cortex (250 nl/mouse), and CSMN were retrogradely labeled via stereotactic injection of red fluorescent microspheres (250 nl/mouse) into the cervical region (C4–C6) of the corticospinal tract within the dorsal funiculus of the spinal cord. Brains were postfixed in 4% PFA overnight, and 40 µm thick coronal sections were cut on a Leica VT 1000S vibrating microtome.

Özdinler P.H., Benn S., Yamamoto T.H., Güzel M., Brown RH J.r, & Macklis J.D. (2011). Corticospinal Motor Neurons and Related Subcerebral Projection Neurons Undergo Early and Specific Neurodegeneration in hSOD1G93A Transgenic ALS Mice. The Journal of Neuroscience, 31(11), 4166-4177.

Publication 2011

Axon Axonal Transport Brain Common Cold Corpus Callosum Cortex, Cerebral Corticospinal Tracts Fluoro-Gold Heparin Mice, Laboratory Microspheres Microtomy Neck Nerve Degeneration Neurites Neurons paraform Patient Holding Stretchers Spinal Cord

Imaging Axonal Transport in Superficial pLL

Protocol full text hidden due to copyright restrictions

Open the protocol to access the free full text link

Publication 2015

Axonal Transport Laser Scanning Microscopy Microscopy, Confocal

Diffusion Dynamics of Disease Propagation

Protocol full text hidden due to copyright restrictions

Open the protocol to access the free full text link

Publication 2015

Axonal Transport Biological Evolution Brain Cloning Vectors Dementia Diffusion Exocytosis Extracellular Space Fibrosis Gray Matter Neurons SERPINA3 protein, human Tissue, Membrane

In Vivo Manganese-Enhanced MRI Imaging

Protocol full text hidden due to copyright restrictions

Open the protocol to access the free full text link

Publication 2008

Anesthesia Animals Axonal Transport ECHO protocol Factor VIII Head Human Body Manganese manganese chloride MRI Scans Radionuclide Imaging Rectum Saline Solution Tectum, Optic Urethane

Visualizing Synaptic Territory and Axonal Transport in Motor Neurons

Protocol full text hidden due to copyright restrictions

Open the protocol to access the free full text link

Publication 2016

Alleles Animals, Transgenic Axon Axonal Transport Cloning Vectors Comet Assay Cytoplasm Electron Microscopy epothilone B Exons Germ Line Homozygote Immunohistochemistry Mice, Knockout Mice, Laboratory Mice, Transgenic Microtubules Mitochondria Motor Neurons Muscle Tissue Neuromuscular Junction Neurons Peroxisome Poly A Recombination, Genetic Rosa Spastin tdTomato

Most recents protocols related to «Axonal Transport»

Immunostaining Analysis of Axonal Transport and Neuronal Integrity

Immunostaining for amyloid precursor protein (APP) was used as a surrogate marker for impairment of axonal transport because it is known to accumulate when transport function in axons is blocked (46 (link)). Neuronal somatodendritic integrity was assessed by immunostaining for the cytoskeletal protein microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2). Assessment of microglia morphology was performed with immunostaining for Iba-1. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 50 µm free-floating sections under moderate shaking. Before staining, the sections were incubated 30 min in 0.3% hydrogen peroxide to quench endogenous peroxidases. After three washing steps in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), non-specific antibody binding sites were blocked with using 10% normal goat serum. Different free-floating sections were incubated overnight at 4 °C with anti-MAP-2 (1 : 500, monoclonal mouse-IgG; Millipore, MAB3418), anti-APP (1 : 500, monoclonal mouse-IgG; Millipore, MAB348), or anti-Iba-1 (1 : 500, polyclonal rabbit-IgG; Wako, 019-19741) in 5% normal goat serum. After several washes, sections were incubated for 2 h at room temperature with secondary antibodies. For APP and MAP-2 staining, biotinylated anti-mouse-IgG, 1 : 500, Vector, BA9200 was used, and the streptavidin/horseradish peroxidase detection was performed according to the manufacturer's recommendations. These sections were incubated with the substrate diaminobenzidine (DAB, D3939; Sigma-Aldrich Company, St. Louis, MO, United States) for 10 min at room temperature. For Iba-1 staining, Alexa Fluor 594 sary antibody (1:500, Invitrogen, #A-11037) was used. Immunofluorescent images were obtained with a Leica microscope (model DMi8 with THUNDER Imager 3D software).

Wang J., Shi Y., Cao S., Liu X., Martin L.J., Simoni J., Soltys B.J., Hsia C.J, & Koehler R.C. (2023). Polynitroxylated PEGylated hemoglobin protects pig brain neocortical gray and white matter after traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock. Frontiers in Medical Technology, 5, 1074643.

Full text: Click here

Publication 2023

Alexa594 Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor anti-IgG Antibodies Axonal Transport Binding Sites, Antibody Buffers Cloning Vectors Cytoskeletal Proteins Fluorescent Antibody Technique Goat Horseradish Peroxidase Immunoglobulins Immunohistochemistry MAP2 protein, human Microglia Microscopy Mus Neurons Peroxidases Peroxide, Hydrogen Phosphates Rabbits Serum Streptavidin Surrogate Markers

Quantifying Mitochondrial Axonal Transport

To image mitochondrial axonal transport, cultured RGCs were either nontransduced or transduced with the viruses above on day 1. After 5 days, mitochondria were labeled with 50 nM MitoTracker Deep Red FM (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) for 15 minutes and imaged every 1.5 seconds for 3 minutes by confocal microscope with incubation (LSM880; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) over a wide field of view. From the time-lapse images, we generated kymographs using the ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) Multiple Kymograph plug-in for ImageJ submitted by J. Rietdorf and A. Seitz (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany) to categorize mitochondrial state and calculate speed of the transport as described previously.²³ (link) In all time courses, mitochondria with a total absolute distance of >10 µm defined over a period of 3 minutes were included as motile. Any mitochondria 50 µm from the cell body or the end of the neurite were excluded. Although it is not possible to definitively differentiate between axons and dendrites at this stage, the longest neurite and main branch were chosen as the candidate axon. Additionally, cells were plated at low density to avoid contact between cells, and neurites touching neighboring cells were excluded from analysis.

Yokota S., Shah S.H., Huie E.L., Wen R.R., Luo Z, & Goldberg J.L. (2023). Kif5a Regulates Mitochondrial Transport in Developing Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vitro. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 64(3), 4.

Full text: Click here

Publication 2023

Axon Axonal Transport Cell Body Cells Dendrites Europeans Kymography Microscopy, Confocal Mitochondria Mitochondrial Inheritance Neoplasm Metastasis Neurites Virus

Real-Time Axonal and Dendritic Transport Dynamics

Dissociated neurons were plated into the cell body chamber of a microfluidic device. Axons or dendrites started to cross the first set of microgrooves into the middle chamber within ~5–7 days. To prepare the QD-BDNF, 100 nM of btBDNF dimer was mixed with 100 nM QD625-streptavidin conjugates (Invitrogen) and incubated overnight at 4 °C. BDNF-QD625 was diluted to a final concentration of 0.2 nM in Neurobasal media w/o phenol red (Invitrogen) and added to the cortical soma body chamber for the axonal anterograde transport study and to the middle chamber for the striatal dendrite’s retrograde transport study. After 30 min incubation at 37 °C, live cell imaging of the QD625 transport was carried out using a Leica DMI6000B inverted microscope. The scope was equipped with an environmental chamber that maintained a constant conditions of 37 °C and 5% CO₂ throughout imaging. A Texas red excitation/emission filter cube was used to visualize the QD625 signal. Time-lapse images were acquired at the speed of 1 frame/second and were captured using a CCD camera (Rolera-Mgi Fast 1397 from Qimaging). All data were processed and analyzed using ImageJ. We took 2–4 min movies, with a frame acquired every 1 s. QDs were tracked using the Kymograph and MtrackJ feature in ImageJ. On average, 10–20 QDs were tracked per microfluidic chamber. Post-analysis was performed in Microsoft Excel. A paused quantum dot was defined as one that was moving less than 0.5 µm/s in a non-processive manner. Average speed was calculated based on the final displacement of the quantum dot. The active moving velocity only included quantum dots during periods of active movement and ignored times in which a quantum dot was paused. Statistical analysis was performed in Excel or Prism v76.0.

Maloney M.T., Wang W., Bhowmick S., Millan I., Kapur M., Herrera N., Frost E., Zhang E.Y., Song S., Wang M., Park A.B., Yao A.Y, & Yang Y. (2023). Failure to Thrive: Impaired BDNF Transport along the Cortical–Striatal Axis in Mouse Q140 Neurons of Huntington’s Disease. Biology, 12(2), 157.

Full text: Click here

Publication 2023

Axon Axonal Transport Carisoprodol Cell Body Cells Dendrites Human Body Kymography Microchip Analytical Devices Microscopy Movement Neurons prisma Reading Frames Streptavidin Striatum, Corpus

Sympathetic Innervation of Lymph Nodes

Male SD rats were used to trace the sympathetic nerve fiber endings innervating the lymph nodes. After anesthetizing the rats with pentobarbital sodium (20 mg/kg, i.p.), a total volume of 1 μL 30% FR (fluorochrome, Inc., USA) or 1 μL of 15% biotinylated glucan amine (BDA) was injected into the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia. In the experimental group, 25 cases were injected (except injection failure). The control group (12 cases), in order to prove that FR‐labeled fibers are caused by axonal transport rather than simple free diffusion, we injected the same amount of 30% FR into the position of superior cervical ganglion after resection. After 14 days of survival, the rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (20 mg/kg i.p.) and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde prepared with 0.1 M phosphate buffer. The 4–5 ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes were fixed with the same fixative overnight and then cryopreserved with 50% sucrose. The slices (25 μm) were cut transversely on a frozen microtome, mounted on gelatin coated slides, and observed under a laser confocal microscope.

Wu K., Li R., Zhang Y., Liu Y., Wang M., Huang J., Zhu C., Zhang J., Yuan X, & Liu Q. (2023). The discovery of a new type of innervation in lymphoid organs. Physiological Reports, 11(4), e15604.

Full text: Click here

Publication 2023

Amines Axonal Transport Buffers Diffusion Fibrosis Fixatives Fluorescent Dyes Freezing Ganglia, Superior Cervical Gelatins Glucans Laser Microscopy Males Microtomy Neck Nerve Endings Nodes, Lymph paraform Pentobarbital Sodium Phosphates Rattus norvegicus Sucrose

Axonal Transport Dynamics Imaging

Axonal transport of signalling endosomes was imaged in the median/ulnar nerves and sciatic nerve as described previously [34 (link)]. To increase the likelihood of imaging motor neurons, axons with larger calibres were prioritised for imaging [37 (link)]. Confocal .czi files were uploaded to ImageJ (http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/) and the dynamics of individual endosomes manually tracked using the TrackMate plugin [45 (link)] and previously reported criteria [37 (link)]. For comparison of axonal transport in median/ulnar nerves with sciatic nerves, different mice were used (i.e., both nerve preparations were not imaged in the same animal).

Lang Q., Schiavo G, & Sleigh J.N. (2023). In vivo imaging of axonal transport in peripheral nerves of rodent forelimbs. Neuronal Signaling, 7(1), NS20220098.

Full text: Click here

Publication 2023

Animals Axon Axonal Transport Endosomes Mice, Laboratory Nervousness Neurons, Efferent Sciatic Nerve Ulnar Nerve

Top products related to «Axonal Transport»

Colchicine by Merck Group

Sourced in United States, Germany, France, Canada, India, Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Macao

Colchicine is a chemical compound used in various laboratory and research applications. It is a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from the autumn crocus plant. Colchicine is primarily used as a research tool to study cell division and microtubule dynamics.

Lipofectamine 2000 by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sourced in United States, China, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Singapore, India, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, Portugal, Poland, Israel, Lithuania, Hong Kong, Argentina, Ireland, Austria, Czechia, Cameroon, Taiwan, Province of China, Morocco

Lipofectamine 2000 is a cationic lipid-based transfection reagent designed for efficient and reliable delivery of nucleic acids, such as plasmid DNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA), into a wide range of eukaryotic cell types. It facilitates the formation of complexes between the nucleic acid and the lipid components, which can then be introduced into cells to enable gene expression or gene silencing studies.

Mitotracker red cmxros by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sourced in United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Italy, Canada, Spain, France, Belgium

MitraTracker Red CMXRos is a fluorescent dye that can be used to stain mitochondria in live cells. It is a cell-permeant dye that accumulates in active mitochondria, enabling the visualization and analysis of mitochondrial structure and function.

Matlab by MathWorks

Sourced in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Austria, Morocco, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, China, France, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Malaysia, Israel, Finland, Spain

MATLAB is a high-performance programming language and numerical computing environment used for scientific and engineering calculations, data analysis, and visualization. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for solving complex mathematical and computational problems.

Botox a by Abbvie

Sourced in United States, Ireland

BOTOX-A is a purified protein derived from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is used as a pharmaceutical product for therapeutic and cosmetic applications.

Alexa fluor 488 by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sourced in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, Canada, China, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Australia, Hungary, Belgium, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Moldova, Republic of, India, Austria, Czechia, Poland

Alexa Fluor 488 is a fluorescent dye used in various biotechnological applications. It has an excitation maximum at 495 nm and an emission maximum at 519 nm, producing a green fluorescent signal. Alexa Fluor 488 is known for its brightness, photostability, and pH-insensitivity, making it a popular choice for labeling biomolecules in biological research.

Lsm 780 microscope by Zeiss

Sourced in Germany, United States, United Kingdom

The LSM 780 is a high-performance confocal laser scanning microscope developed by Zeiss. It is designed for advanced imaging applications in life science research. The LSM 780 provides high-resolution, multicolor imaging capabilities with a range of configurable options to meet the specific needs of users.

Lsm800 confocal microscope by Zeiss

Sourced in Germany, United States, France, Japan, China, Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Chile, Sweden

The ZEISS LSM 800 confocal microscope is a high-performance imaging system designed for advanced biological and materials research. It offers high-resolution, optical sectioning capabilities to visualize and analyze samples in three dimensions. The LSM 800 utilizes a laser-scanning technology to capture detailed images with excellent signal-to-noise ratio and contrast.

Neurobasal medium by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sourced in United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Canada, Spain, France, Switzerland, China, Australia, Israel, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Austria

Neurobasal medium is a cell culture medium designed for the maintenance and growth of primary neuronal cells. It provides a defined, serum-free environment that supports the survival and differentiation of neurons. The medium is optimized to maintain the phenotypic characteristics of neurons and minimizes the growth of non-neuronal cells.

Mitotracker deep red fm by Thermo Fisher Scientific

Sourced in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland

MitraTracker Deep Red FM is a fluorescent dye that selectively stains mitochondria in live cells. It is membrane-permeant and accumulates in active mitochondria based on their membrane potential. This product can be used to visualize and analyze mitochondrial morphology and distribution.

What are the different types of axonal transport?

Axonal transport can be categorized into two main types: anterograde transport and retrograde transport. Anterograde transport moves materials, such as organelles, proteins, and neurotransmitters, from the cell body towards the axon terminals. Retrograde transport, on the other hand, carries materials like signaling molecules and damaged organelles back from the axon terminals to the cell body. Understanding these distinct directional movements is crucial for studying neuronal function and dysfunction.

How can disturbances in axonal transport lead to neurological disorders?

Disruptions in the delicate balance of axonal transport have been implicated in various neurological diseases. When the movement of essential materials along the axon is impaired, it can lead to the accumulation of toxic substances, the degeneration of neuronal structures, and the impairment of crucial neuronal functions. This has been observed in conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease. Researching the mechanisms underlying axonal transport is therefore crucial for developing more effective treatments for these neurodegenerative disorders.

How can PubCompare.ai assist in optimizing axonal transport research?

PubCompare.ai is a powerful tool that can help researchers optimize their axonal transport studies. By leveraging AI-driven protocol comparisons, the platform allows you to efficiently screen the literature and identify the most effective and reproducible methods for your specific research goals. The platform's AI analysis can highlight key differences in protocol effectiveness, enabling you to choose the best option for accurate and reliable results. This can be particularly helpful in areas like axonal transport, where understanding the nuances of different experimental approaches is crucial for advancing our knowledge and developing new therapies.

What are some common challenges in studying axonal transport?

Studying axonal transport can present several challenges for researchers. One key challenge is the complex and dynamic nature of the transport process, which involves a variety of molecular motors, cytoskeletal elements, and regulatory mechanisms. Accurately measuring and quantifying axonal transport can also be technically demanding, requiring specialized techniques like live-cell imaging or sophisticated biochemical assays. Additionally, the heterogeneity of neuronal populations and the sensitivity of axonal transport to environmental factors can make it difficult to achieve consistent and reproducible results. Addressing these challenges through innovative methodologies and collaborations is crucial for advancing our understanding of this crucial neuronal process.

More about "Axonal Transport"

Axonal transport, also known as intracellular transport or neuronal transport, is a crucial process in the functioning of neurons.
It involves the movement of various cellular components, such as organelles, proteins, and other materials, both towards (anterograde) and away from (retrograde) the cell body along the length of the neuron's axon.
This bidirectional transport system is essential for the growth, maintenance, and proper functioning of neurons.
Disturbances or impairments in axonal transport have been implicated in a variety of neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.
As such, understanding the mechanisms and regulation of axonal transport is an important area of research in the field of neuroscience.
Researchers often utilize a range of tools and techniques to study axonal transport.
This includes the use of fluorescent dyes like MitoTracker Red CMXRos and Alexa Fluor 488 to visualize and track the movement of mitochondria and other organelles.
Colchicine, a microtubule-disrupting agent, can also be used to investigate the role of the cytoskeleton in axonal transport.
Additionally, advanced microscopy techniques, such as live-cell imaging with LSM 780 or LSM800 confocal microscopes, allow researchers to observe axonal transport dynamics in real-time.
In some cases, researchers may also employ genetic manipulation, such as the use of Lipofectamine 2000 for transfection, to study the effects of specific proteins or genes on axonal transport.
MATLAB, a powerful computational software, can be utilized for data analysis and modeling of axonal transport processes.
Furthermore, various in vitro and in vivo models, including the use of Neurobasal medium for culturing neurons, have been developed to study axonal transport in both normal and pathological conditions.
Treatments like BOTOX-A have also been investigated for their potential to modulate axonal transport and mitigate the effects of neurological disorders.
By leveraging these diverse tools and techniques, researchers can gain deeper insights into the mechanisms and regulation of axonal transport, ultimately paving the way for the development of more effective treatments and interventions for neurological diseases.