New pathway for neuron repair

This image shows a single neuron in a whole animal five hours after dendrites were removed with laser surgery (left). The same cell was imaged at 48 hours and 96 hours after the dendrites were removed. At 48 hours (middle) a new dendrite arbor extends from the cell body, and by 96 hours the new arbor fills the entire space normally occupied by the cell. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Penn State molecular biologists have discovered a brand-new pathway for repairing nerve cells that could have implications for faster and improved healing. The researchers describe their findings in a paper titled "Dendrite Injury Triggers DLK-Independent Regeneration," which will be published in the Jan. 30 issue of the journal Cell Reports.