Slowing of axonal regeneration is correlated with increased axonal viscosity during aging.
BACKGROUND
As we age, the speed of axonal regeneration declines. At the biophysical level, why this occurs is not well understood.


RESULTS
To investigate we first measured the rate of axonal elongation of sensory neurons cultured from neonatal and adult rats. We found that neonatal axons grew 40% faster than adult axons (11.5 µm/hour vs. 8.2 µm/hour). To determine how the mechanical properties of axons change during maturation, we used force calibrated towing needles to measure the viscosity (stiffness) and strength of substrate adhesion of neonatal and adult sensory axons. We found no significant difference in the strength of adhesions, but did find that adult axons were 3 times intrinsically stiffer than neonatal axons.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our results suggest decreasing axonal stiffness may be part of an effective strategy to accelerate the regeneration of axons in the adult peripheral nervous system.
Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA.
Phillip L
PL
Lamoureux
Matthew R
MR
O'Toole
Steven R
SR
Heidemann
Kyle E
KE
Miller
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014783:Viscosity