Researchers at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus, the Allen Institute, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School have made significant advancements in understanding primary cilia, small organelles found on many cells, including those in the brain. Their study utilizes high-resolution 3D electron microscopy to analyze mouse brain tissue, revealing crucial details about cilia's organization and function.
Primary cilia, which are micrometer-long structures that extend from the cell surface, play a vital role in cellular signaling and regulation. Traditional microscopy techniques have made it challenging to study these structures due to their small size and the complexity of their environment within brain tissue.
The research team employed volume electron microscopy (volume EM), a method that allows for detailed imaging of tissue layers, to obtain unprecedented views of cilia in the mouse visual cortex. Their findings provide a comprehensive description of cilia in this brain region, detailing which cell types possess cilia and their structural variations.
According to Carolyn Ott, a senior scientist involved in the research, the ability to visualize cilia in their natural context has opened new avenues for exploration. The study suggests that differences in cilia structure and location may influence their function and could be linked to various diseases.
Additionally, the research examined cilia development in cerebellar granule cells, the most common cell type in the mouse brain. The team discovered that these cells lose their cilia as they mature, a process that is critical for halting further growth. Understanding this mechanism may provide insights into certain brain tumors where mature cells retain cilia, potentially contributing to tumor growth.
This work underscores the importance of cilia in brain function and disease, highlighting the potential for future research to explore therapeutic avenues related to cilia-related disorders.