Tangle.
Drawings inspired by the intricate meshwork of neuron-astrocyte cultures. Finely branched structures make up majority (almost 80%) of the astrocyte's volume. These branches allow for precise and local contact, communication, and regulation of physiological processes with neurons and other cell types.
Neurons have dendrites and axons that serve to receive and transmit electrochemical inputs, respectively. To fulfill these compartment-specific demands, the structure of these neurites are highly regulated. Dendrites are overall more branched than axons, and their thickness tapers as distance from the cell body increases. Axons are typically thinner than dendrites, although differences in neuronal subtype, local functionality, and development can regulate diameter.
References
Gao, L., Liu, S., Wang, Y. et al. Single-neuron analysis of dendrites and axons reveals the network organization in mouse prefrontal cortex. Nat Neurosci (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01339-y
Costa AR, Pinto-Costa R, Sousa SC, Sousa MM. The Regulation of Axon Diameter: From Axonal Circumferential Contractility to Activity-Dependent Axon Swelling. Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Sep 4;11:319. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00319. PMID: 30233318; PMCID: PMC6131297.
Zhou B, Zuo YX, Jiang RT. Astrocyte morphology: Diversity, plasticity, and role in neurological diseases. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2019 Jun;25(6):665-673.
