Investigations Into The Role Of Neurotransmitter Release From Astrocytes In The Hippocampus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$233,057.00
Summary
While ten per cent of the brain consists of neurons, responsible for movement and thinking, the rest is made up of cells called glial cells. Scientists have always believed that astrocytes, a type of glial cell known for its distinctive star like shape, provide only mechanical and metabolic support for neurons, by maintaining the environment in the brain. This project will investigate how astrocytes actively regulate neuronal activity and may have important roles to play in learning and memory.
Is EphA4 The Major Molecular Regulator Of Axonal Regeneration?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$491,000.00
Summary
Spinal cord injury affects a substantial number of Australians each year. Around half the number of spinal cord injury cases result in quadriplegia, with loss of function to a varying degree in the upper as well as the lower limbs. The limited degree of repair of spinal axons following injury means that such paralysis is usually permanent. Although the inability to walk is a serious issue, the limited function of the arms and hands results in a loss of independence which is a major factor contri ....Spinal cord injury affects a substantial number of Australians each year. Around half the number of spinal cord injury cases result in quadriplegia, with loss of function to a varying degree in the upper as well as the lower limbs. The limited degree of repair of spinal axons following injury means that such paralysis is usually permanent. Although the inability to walk is a serious issue, the limited function of the arms and hands results in a loss of independence which is a major factor contribuing to the enormous personal, financial, and community costs of this problem, estimated to cost the Australian community $200 million a year. In recent years advanced anatomical and molecular approaches to the problem of repair of the central nervous system have provided great insights into the neuronal and glial reactions to neural damage that appear to govern the success or failure of neural regeneration. Our preliminary data indicate that a receptor tyrosine kinase, EphA4, which is important for axonal pathfinding in the developing nervous system, is a potent inhibitor of neural regeneration following spinal cord injury. In this project we will determine the mechanisms by which EphA4 exerts its inhibitory effects, and examine the effect of neutralizing EphA4 signalling on neural regeneration. Success in achieving this result will lead to the development of a therapeutic intervention that we will test in mouse models.Read moreRead less