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Axon morphology is modulated by the local environment and impacts the noninvasive investigation of its structure-function relationship

Andersson, Mariam ; Kjer, Hans Martin ; Rafael-Patino, Jonathan ; Pacureanu, Alexandra ; Pakkenberg, Bente ; Thiran, Jean Philippe ; Ptito, Maurice ; Bech, Martin LU orcid ; Bjorholm Dahl, Anders and Andersen Dahl, Vedrana , et al. (2020) In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 117(52). p.33649-33659
Abstract

Axonal conduction velocity, which ensures efficient function of the brain network, is related to axon diameter. Noninvasive, in vivo axon diameter estimates can be made with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, but the technique requires three-dimensional (3D) validation. Here, high-resolution, 3D synchrotron X-ray nano-holotomography images of white matter samples from the corpus callosum of a monkey brain reveal that blood vessels, cells, and vacuoles affect axonal diameter and trajectory. Within single axons, we find that the variation in diameter and conduction velocity correlates with the mean diameter, contesting the value of precise diameter determination in larger axons. These complex 3D axon morphologies drive previously... (More)

Axonal conduction velocity, which ensures efficient function of the brain network, is related to axon diameter. Noninvasive, in vivo axon diameter estimates can be made with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, but the technique requires three-dimensional (3D) validation. Here, high-resolution, 3D synchrotron X-ray nano-holotomography images of white matter samples from the corpus callosum of a monkey brain reveal that blood vessels, cells, and vacuoles affect axonal diameter and trajectory. Within single axons, we find that the variation in diameter and conduction velocity correlates with the mean diameter, contesting the value of precise diameter determination in larger axons. These complex 3D axon morphologies drive previously reported 2D trends in axon diameter and g-ratio. Furthermore, we find that these morphologies bias the estimates of axon diameter with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and, ultimately, impact the investigation and formulation of the axon structure-function relationship.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
axon morphology, brain, conduction velocity, MRI, myelination
in
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
volume
117
issue
52
pages
11 pages
publisher
National Academy of Sciences
external identifiers
  • scopus:85099114902
  • pmid:33376224
ISSN
1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.2012533117
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d1f9b040-924e-4d71-8b05-4986db5259ef
date added to LUP
2021-01-21 12:52:01
date last changed
2024-06-27 07:26:03
@article{d1f9b040-924e-4d71-8b05-4986db5259ef,
  abstract     = {{<p>Axonal conduction velocity, which ensures efficient function of the brain network, is related to axon diameter. Noninvasive, in vivo axon diameter estimates can be made with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, but the technique requires three-dimensional (3D) validation. Here, high-resolution, 3D synchrotron X-ray nano-holotomography images of white matter samples from the corpus callosum of a monkey brain reveal that blood vessels, cells, and vacuoles affect axonal diameter and trajectory. Within single axons, we find that the variation in diameter and conduction velocity correlates with the mean diameter, contesting the value of precise diameter determination in larger axons. These complex 3D axon morphologies drive previously reported 2D trends in axon diameter and g-ratio. Furthermore, we find that these morphologies bias the estimates of axon diameter with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and, ultimately, impact the investigation and formulation of the axon structure-function relationship.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersson, Mariam and Kjer, Hans Martin and Rafael-Patino, Jonathan and Pacureanu, Alexandra and Pakkenberg, Bente and Thiran, Jean Philippe and Ptito, Maurice and Bech, Martin and Bjorholm Dahl, Anders and Andersen Dahl, Vedrana and Dyrby, Tim B.}},
  issn         = {{1091-6490}},
  keywords     = {{axon morphology; brain; conduction velocity; MRI; myelination}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{52}},
  pages        = {{33649--33659}},
  publisher    = {{National Academy of Sciences}},
  series       = {{Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}},
  title        = {{Axon morphology is modulated by the local environment and impacts the noninvasive investigation of its structure-function relationship}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012533117}},
  doi          = {{10.1073/pnas.2012533117}},
  volume       = {{117}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}