A study published in Science explores the role of dendritic nanotubes (DNTs) in neuronal communication, revealing that these ultrathin structures facilitate intercellular signaling outside traditional synapses. Researchers utilized super-resolution microscopy to demonstrate DNTs' ability to exchange calcium ions and transport pathogenic materials, such as β-amyloid peptides associated with Alzheimer's disease, between neurons. The discovery sheds light on the mechanisms of disease propagation in the brain, suggesting that DNTs could be critical for understanding neurodegenerative disorders.
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