Neurons continue to grow where the brain matures

Although many believe that adult brain cells do not develop, but a researcher at the Institute of Learning and Memorization at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, said the reconstruction of the actual nerve structures still occurs. where the brain grows. This discovery paved the way for the development of new cells to replace damaged cells due to disease or spinal injuries.

While scientists focus primarily on trying to regenerate damaged axons in spinal cord wounds, the new discovery targets another part of the nerve cell: the dendritic tail. The dendritic tail is a branch of the nerve cell that conducts stimulation to the nerve cell body.

Scientists have used a method called two-photonic imaging to monitor neurons specifically in the surface layers of the visual cortex in mice. With the help of a technique similar to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but more sophisticated, called cell resolution, researchers can sew two-dimensional layers together to reproduce all the first three-dimensional neurons in the cortex mature. Dendritic branches are measured after several weeks to assess physical changes.

As a result, the branches of brain neurons grow together, reaching each other, particularly with branches up to 90 microns long.

Q.HONG