Interactions Between Neurons and Merkel Cells in vitro

发育神经科学的一个关键问题是神经细胞如何选择合适的目标。 这个问题将在默克尔细胞（老鼠鼻子的机械感觉细胞）的培养系统中进行研究。 这些细胞通常由三叉神经节的感觉神经元支配。 研究人员观察到，在培养中，感觉神经元选择性地生长到默克尔细胞岛上，并建立将神经突与其他感觉神经元排除的区域，而交感神经元则主动避开默克尔细胞。 将进行研究以检验以下假设：感觉神经元特异性识别默克尔细胞表面的分子并对其做出反应，并且由于默克尔细胞表面的分子诱导神经突回缩，交感神经元主动避开默克尔细胞。 将鉴定参与默克尔细胞和神经元之间相互作用的细胞表面分子类别。 延时视频显微镜将用于研究默克尔细胞上神经元区域形成所涉及的动态事件。 将研究神经生长因子在默克尔细胞神经元区域的形成和维持中的作用。 这些研究有望提供有关对神经元特异性形成重要的分子的信息。

A pivotal issue in developmental neuroscience is how nerve cells choose the appropriate target. This issue will be investigated in a culture system of Merkel cells, the mechanosensory cells of the rat snout. These cells are normally innervated by sensory neurons of the trigeminal ganglion. The investigator has observed that, in culture, sensory neurons selectively grow onto islands of Merkel cells and establish territories that exclude neurites from other sensory neurons, while sympathetic neurons actively avoid Merkel cells. Studies will be done to examine the hypothesis that sensory neurons specifically recognize and respond to molecules on the surface of Merkel cells, and that sympathetic neurons actively avoid Merkel cells as the result of molecules on the surface of Merkel cells that induce neurite retraction. Classes of cell surface molecules involved in the interactions between Merkel cells and neurons will be identified. Time lapse videomicroscopy will be used to investigate the dynamic events involved in the formation of neuronal territories on Merkel cells. The role of nerve growth factor in formation and maintenance of neuronal territories on Merkel cells will be studied. These studies promise to provide information on molecules important to the formation of neuronal specificity.