what is the difference between neurons of rat and elephant?
Answers
I don’t know anything specific about elephant neurons, but I know enough about comparative Neuroscience to give a somewhat informed answer. The neurons of rats and elephants are essentially the same, with differences in the details. The basic structure and function will be very similar; virtually identical. Elephant neurons will be larger, and there will be subtle differences in the way they operate. For example, both types of neuron will discharge action potentials, but there will be differences in the kinetics, owing to geometric differences and subtle differences in the sequence of proteins between the two species.
I can speak more authoritatively on the difference between rat neurons and those of another large mammal: humans. If you looked at the neurons from these two species, you would be hard pressed to tell which animal they came from, at least without knowing the scale or without the use of some specialized stains that indicate species. They look the same, they work the same, but with the same subtle differences mentioned above. One interesting thing: human neurons are a lot more hardy in the face of mechanical challenges than are rat neurons. A common technique for studying the electrical activity is to poke them with microelectrodes. In rats, these types of electrical recordings tend to last about an hour before neuron succumbs to the the injury electrode poke. Human neurons on the other hand, last for hours and hours in the face of the same insult. It is speculated that this is because Humans have evolved to a much longer lifespan, and therefore parts built to last a longer time.