Mitochondrial Transport in Symmetric and Asymmetric Axons with Multiple Branching Junctions: A Computational Study

Abstract

We explore the impact of multiple branching junctions in axons on the mean age of mitochondria and their age density distributions in demand sites. The study looked at mitochondrial concentration, mean age, and age density distribution in relation to the distance from the soma. We developed models for a symmetric axon containing 14 demand sites and an asymmetric axon containing 10 demand sites. We examined how the concentration of mitochondria changes when an axon is divided into two branches at the branching junction. We also studied whether mitochondria concentrations in the branches are affected by what portion of mitochondrial flux goes into the upper branch and what portion goes into the lower branch. Additionally, we explored whether the distributions of mitochondria mean age and age density in branching axons are affected by how the mitochondria flux splits at the branching junction. Our findings elucidate the effects of axonal branching on mitochondria age. Mitochondria aging is the focus of this study as recent research suggests it may be involved in neurodegenerative disorders.