Axonal spheroids and conduction defects in Alzheimer’s disease (Yuan, Zhang, Tong, et al 2022)

PAAS (plaque-associated axonal spheroid(s)) are dystrophic structures that sprout from axons that pass through amyloid beta plaques. If small enough they do not interfere with action potential (AP) propagation. Medium sized ones delay APs, and large, or many spheroids can block single APs and block or delay trains of APs.

Model Type: Neuron or other electrically excitable cell; Axon

Region(s) or Organism(s): Neocortex

Cell Type(s): Hippocampus CA1 pyramidal GLU cell; Neocortex L5/6 pyramidal GLU cell; Neocortex L2/3 pyramidal GLU cell

Model Concept(s): Action Potentials; Pathophysiology; Aging/Alzheimer`s

Simulation Environment: NEURON

Implementer(s): Morse, Tom [Tom.Morse at Yale.edu]; McDougal, Robert [robert.mcdougal at yale.edu]

References:

Yuan P et al. (2022). PLD3 affects axonal spheroids and network defects in Alzheimer's disease Nature. 612 [PubMed]