A study on morphological and dynamical properties of neuronal growth cones

In the developing nervous system and in the adult brain, neurons constantly need to solve mechanical problems. Neuronal growth cones are the main motile structures located at the tip of neurites and are composed of a lamellipodium from which thin filopodia emerge. They are responsible for extension of neurite processes and for transducing signals from extracellular cues to alter directionality, branching, and motility. They must decide how to explore the environment and in which direction to grow; they also need to establish appropriate contacts, to avoid obstacles and to determine how much force to exert. The complete understanding of the nervous system and its basic unit, the neuron, demands a quantification of the behavioral pattern and the morphological characteristics...