Neuronal Transport
Neuronal Transport - Related Videos
04:50
Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations
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Cited by 7 •
2011
We describe a protocol that allows imaging of mitochondria in living neurons via fluorescence microscopy over long durations. Imaging over extended periods is accomplished through lentivirus-mediated expression of a mitochondrially targeted fluorescent protein and use of an inexpensive stage-top incubator that was designed and built in our laboratory.
03:00
Tracking Axonal Transport of Organelles in Motor Neurons Using a Microfluidic Device
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2025
This video demonstrates a method for tracking axonal transport in motor neurons using a microfluidic chamber system. It involves culturing mouse embryonic spinal cord tissues in polymer-coated wells with nutrient medium to induce axonal growth. The movement of fluorescent dye-stained organelles in live imaging, confirms the bidirectional axonal transport.
08:53
Assay to Measure Nucleocytoplasmic Transport in Real Time within Motor Neuron-like NSC-34 Cells
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Cited by 6 •
2017
This protocol describes a method to sensitively measure the nucleocytoplasmic transport rate within motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells by quantifying the real-time change in the nuclear import of a NLS-NES-GFP protein.
07:35
Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons
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Cited by 11 •
2017
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a good model to study axonal and intracellular transport. Here, I describe a protocol for in vivo recording and analysis of axonal and intraflagellar transport in C. elegans.
01:32
Transport and Acclimatization of Rodents for Research
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2026
All animal procedures described here must be conducted in accordance with institutional animal ethics guidelines and approved by IACUC. All procedures must follow the principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—and must be performed by trained personnel. Transporting rodents for research requires procedures that minimize stress and maintain animal welfare during movement to minimize the influence on experimental outcomes. Transport cages should provide adequate ventilation,...
FAQs
Polarized microtubules provide organized routes through the neuron, while molecular motors move cargo along those routes. Kinesin and dynein are key examples of these motors. Their coordinated activity allows cargo to travel in defined directions rather than moving randomly, which is essential for delivering materials to distant axon terminals and returning other materials to the cell body.
Anterograde transport moves materials from the cell body toward axon terminals, whereas retrograde transport returns materials toward the cell body. These directions support complementary needs: forward movement supplies synaptic regions with components, while return movement helps carry materials back for processing or removal. Together, they connect distant neuronal regions with the cell body.
Different cargoes support different neuronal requirements. Proteins and vesicles help supply cellular and synaptic components, while organelles contribute to the maintenance of long neuronal extensions. The movement of damaged materials in the opposite direction also supports cellular upkeep. Coordinating these cargoes enables neurons to preserve axonal structure and sustain communication between cells.
Long axons place synaptic regions far from the cell body, making local supply and removal insufficient on their own. Transport pathways bridge that distance by moving essential materials toward axon terminals and returning other materials. This logistical connection helps maintain axonal integrity and supports the function of neuronal regions that are physically distant from the cell body.
Synaptic communication depends on the availability of components at axon terminals. Anterograde movement delivers synaptic components from the cell body toward those terminals, helping maintain the structures involved in communication between cells. In parallel, retrograde movement returns materials toward the cell body, linking terminal activity with ongoing neuronal maintenance and resource management.
Researchers examine neuronal transport to understand how failures in cargo movement affect axons, synaptic function, and communication between distant neuronal regions. Because disrupted pathways are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, transport provides a biological context for connecting cellular logistics with disease-related neuronal decline. The same framework also informs studies of axonal growth and synaptic maintenance.