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Editorial
. 2024 Mar 13:13:e96813.
doi: 10.7554/eLife.96813.

Mechanosensory neurons under pressure

Erin Cram  1
Affiliations
Editorial

Mechanosensory neurons under pressure

Erin Cram. Elife. .

Abstract

A build-up of eggs in the uterus of the nematode C. elegans triggers the release of large extracellular vesicles, called exophers, from neurons that are sensitive to mechanical forces.

Keywords: C. elegans; exophers; mechanical stress; neurodegenerative diseases; neurons; neuroscience; proteostress.

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Conflict of interest statement

EC No competing interests declared

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Exopher production by stressed neurons in C. elegans.
(A) In the C. elegans hermaphrodite worm, the reproductive system consists of two gonad arms, which contain the germline, and a common uterus (indicated by the blue box), where eggs accumulate before they are laid. The cell body of a lateral microtubule neuron (red circle) is in close proximity to the uterus, and the neurite of this neuron (red line) extends all the way to the head of the worm. (B) When only a small number of eggs are in the uterus, the neuron does not produce exophers. (C) However, when eggs accumulate in the uterus, the cell body becomes stressed and exophers (small red circles) are released.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

  • doi: 10.7554/eLife.95443

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