Molecular Determinants Fundamental to Axon Regeneration after SCI
Abstract
We hypothesize that the ability to grow an axon over CSPGs is intrinsic to adult zebrafish brainstem neurons and entails the expression of a distinct set of genes. This premise will be addressed using in vitro adult zebrafish brainstem cell culture systems and in vivo adult zebrafish spinal cord injury model systems. In cultures we have observed three distinct populations of brainstem neurons with regard to their response to chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG). Some cells attach, extend processes, and remain exclusively associated with CSPG. Other cells attach outside and extend processes into CSPG-rich areas. A third kind of cell was found to attach outside and extend processes up to but never into CSPG-rich areas. In fact, these processes were clearly repelled by CSPG. We are currently quantifying different aspects of these three adult zebrafish brainstem neuron populations. Thus, these cultures mimic the in vivo behaviors of brainstem populations after SCI. In parallel to these in vitro studies, we have developed minimally invasive spinal cord transection and tracer injection techniques. These are currently employed to investigate the evolution of the scar and the time course of axon regeneration after spinal cord injury. The data from these first in vivo experiments will serve as a basis to optimize our harvest of retrogradely labeled adult brainstem neurons that did or did not regenerate their axon beyond a transection site.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA595271
Entities
People
- Jeffrey Plunkett
Organizations
- University of St. Thomas