Local regulation of the axonal phenotype, a case of merotrophism
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2005
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Abstract
In this essay, we show that several anatomical features of the axon, namely, microtubular content, caliber and extension of sprouts, correlate on a local basis with the particular condition of the glial cell, i.e., the anatomy of axons is dynamic, although it is seen usually in its 'normal' state. The occurence of ribosomes and messenger RNAs in the axon suggests that exoplasmic proteins are most likely synthesized locally, at variance with the accepted notion that they are supplied by the cell body. We propose that the supporting cell (oligodendrocyte or Schwann cell) regulates the axonal phenotype by fine-tuning the ongoing axonal protein synthesis.
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Keywords
axon, protein synthesis, nerve regeneration, Schwann cell, Wld(s)