Fig. 2: Membrane mechanics dictate axon nanopearling.
From: Membrane mechanics dictate axonal pearls-on-a-string morphology and function
a, Axon morphology is modeled using the classic Helfrich membrane model and governed by membrane bending, surface tension and osmotic conditions. b, Model prediction of axon morphology under the indicated osmotic conditions; scale bars, 200 nm. c, Plot showing the dimensions of NSVs at the indicated osmotic conditions. Note that NSV size is inversely scaled with the external osmotic pressure. d, Plot showing the dimensions of NSVs with varying membrane rigidity, ranging from 20 kBT to 100 kBT. e, Example micrographs of axons high-pressure frozen under the indicated osmotic conditions. More example micrographs are available in Extended Data Fig. 3a; scale bars, 200 nm. f, Plots showing the dimensions of NSVs (left) and connectors (right) from neurons in e; n = 100 axons from three replicates. Super plots showing variability are available in Extended Data Fig. 3b. Data are shown as mean ± s.e.m. and were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by a Dunn’s multiple comparison test. g, Example micrographs of axons from cultured neurons treated with sham (control) or 5 mM MβCD for 30 min. More example micrographs are available in Extended Data Fig. 4c; scale bars, 200 nm. h, Plots showing the dimensions of NSVs (left) and connectors (right) from neurons in g; n = 100 axons from three replicates. Super plots showing variability are available in Extended Data Fig. 4d. Data are shown as mean ± s.e.m. and were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by a Dunn’s multiple comparison test.
