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Role Of Synaptogenesis In Developmental Motoneuron Cell Death
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,650.00
Summary
Naturally occurring cell death is an important and necessary event that shapes the developing embryo. It occurs in all organs of the developing body. In the nervous system about 50% of all neurons die at a time when they are making contact with one another or with their target organs. The underlying mechanisms that drive programmed neuronal cell death are not known. One possibility is that the formation of neuronal contacts (synapses) with other neurons and target cells determines the fate of a ....Naturally occurring cell death is an important and necessary event that shapes the developing embryo. It occurs in all organs of the developing body. In the nervous system about 50% of all neurons die at a time when they are making contact with one another or with their target organs. The underlying mechanisms that drive programmed neuronal cell death are not known. One possibility is that the formation of neuronal contacts (synapses) with other neurons and target cells determines the fate of a neuron. The connections of motor neurons with muscle during this period of developmental neuronal cell death is the best model to examine this phenomenon. In this grant we are in an exciting position to be able to address what causes neuronal cell death, as we have a number of mice that lack key molecules needed for the formation of specializations that allow neuronal contacts to be made between motor neurons and their muscle, and with other neurons within the spinal cord. By examining the function of motor neurons, counting them and screening for molecular changes in these mice, we will be able to dissect out the mechanism of how a motor neurons' fate is determined during the period of programmed cell death. The outcomes of this research will enable us to understand how the nervous system is shaped during development and will increase our knowledge about the basis of adult neurodegenerative diseases. For example, the pathology of Alzheimer's is characterised by a breakdown in neuronal connections that ultimately result in neuronal death and a loss of thought processes (cognition).Read moreRead less
Segmentation Of The Peripheral Nervous System - The Role Of Axon Guidance Factors.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,331.00
Summary
Injury to the nervous system results in great loss to the individual and society at large. To repair a damaged nerve pathway so that functional recovery may ensue is the pre-eminent goal of neuroscience research. An understanding of how factors that guide nerve processes coordinate the wiring of the nervous system during development of an embryo will provide an insight into what strategy is required to repair a damaged nerve pathway in the mature nervous system. In this research project we propo ....Injury to the nervous system results in great loss to the individual and society at large. To repair a damaged nerve pathway so that functional recovery may ensue is the pre-eminent goal of neuroscience research. An understanding of how factors that guide nerve processes coordinate the wiring of the nervous system during development of an embryo will provide an insight into what strategy is required to repair a damaged nerve pathway in the mature nervous system. In this research project we propose to investigate what factors guide the formation of the peripheral nervous system which controls the body. We will use a novel model system whereby a whole chick embryo is grown in a culture dish and the developing nerve pathways can be manipulated to discover what are the exact factors that guide nerve processes to wire up pathways to the limbs and other body parts. This research will provide an opportunity to study the basic principles of nerve pathfinding which may then be applied to more complicated circuits within the brain and to the repair of injured nerve pathways.Read moreRead less
Effects Of Muscle Inflammation On Sensory Neuron Excitability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$397,398.00
Summary
Muscle pain is a common and poorly treated health problem for many Australians. This project examines the properties of nerves that sense muscle pain and looks at how these change during inflammation, a common cause of muscle pain. We are looking specifically at jaw muscles, which are one of the most common sites of chronic muscle pain. By understanding how muscle nerves are changed by injury, we hope to be able to develop treatments to prevent or reverse these changes.