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Theory for Durotactic Axon Guidance.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Oliveri, Hadrien 
Goriely, Alain 

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.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Axon Guidance, Axons, Biomechanical Phenomena, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Neurons, Xenopus

Journal Title

Phys Rev Lett

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0031-9007
1079-7114

Volume Title

126

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
European Research Council (772426)
ERC