Effects of Cocaine on Neuron Migration and Proliferation

描述（由申请人提供）：暴露于可卡因已被证明对中枢神经系统介导的行为有深远的影响。然而，这些行为背后的解剖学变化并没有得到很好的理解。我的研究训练的目的是检查产前给药和成人使用可卡因对位于皮质室下区（SVZ）的神经元的产生和迁移的影响。中枢神经系统的这个特殊区域是独一无二的，因为在哺乳动物的整个生命周期中，这个区域的神经元会继续发育。为了分析这些发育模式，我将对从SVZ到皮层的神经元迁移模式（主要是通过吻侧迁移流）进行3D形态测量分析。使用“窗口标记”技术来标记经过细胞周期阶段的神经元，我还将测量该区域神经元的细胞周期生成时间，以确定暴露于可卡因是否会改变任何细胞周期参数。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Exposure to cocaine has been shown to have profound effects on CNS-mediated behaviors. However, the anatomical changes that underlie these behaviors are not well understood. The objective of my research training is to examine the effects of both prenatal administration and adult usage of cocaine on the generation and migration of neurons located in the cortical subventricular zone (SVZ). This specialized area of the CNS is unique in that neurons from this region continue to develop throughout the lifespan of mammals. In order to analyze these developmental patterns, I will conduct a 3D morphometric analysis on migration patterns of neurons from the SVZ through the cortex (primarily through the rostral migratory stream). Using a "window-labeling " technique to mark neurons as they pass through stages of the cell cycle, I will also measure the cell cycle generation time of neurons in this region to determine if exposure to cocaine changes any of the cell cycle parameters.