SFAs impair axonal mitochondrial transport in DRG neurons. (A) A kymograph analysis is used to record mitochondrial movement from 0–150 seconds using live-cell confocal microscopy. Straight lines indicate non-motile mitochondria. Elevated levels of exogenous short and medium chain SFAs laurate (B) and myristate (C) did not impact the number of motile mitochondrial in the axon of sensory DRG neurons. LCSFAs associated with T2D and prediabetes such as palmitate (D) and stearate (E) induce a dose-dependent decrease in the percentage of motile mitochondria in the axon of sensory DRG neurons. (F) MUFA oleate had no effect on mitochondrial motility. (G) Mixtures of oleate and palmitate prevented palmitate-induced impairment of mitochondrial transport. SFA kymographs and bar graphs modified with permission from
Rumora, A.E., LoGrasso, G., Haidar, J.A., Dolkowski, J.J., Lentz, S.I., and Feldman, E.L. (2019). Chain length of saturated fatty acids regulates mitochondrial trafficking and function in sensory neurons. J Lipid Res 60, 58–70. Permission to be obtained for MUFA kymographs and bar graphs from J. Neurosci upon release of paper in press.