Traffic and Travel

Carrying messages to and from our moving limbs, neurons rely on signalling endosomes to ferry supportive chemicals along their branches or axons. Although ten million times smaller than postable parcels, here researchers use intravital imaging to capture a bustling traffic of endosomes (highlighted in blue) shuttling through a mouse’s sciatic nerve. The technique involves anaesthetising the mouse and exposing its nerve under a microscope – it reveals endosomes carrying BDNF, a type of neurotrophin which helps to keep neurons healthy. Certain genetic mutations can block BDNF traffic at junctions where nerve meets muscle, leading to weakness or muscle wasting. The team hopes designing drugs to boost BDNF may restore endosome transport and bring relief to human patients with disorders like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video from work by James N. Sleigh and colleagues
• Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
• Video copyright held by James N. Sleigh
• Research published in JCI Insight, March 2023