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 选择合适的目标。 这个问题将在 默克尔细胞的培养系统， 老鼠鼻子 这些细胞通常由感觉神经元支配 三叉神经节 调查人员发现，在 培养时，感觉神经元选择性地生长在默克尔岛上 细胞并建立将其他神经突排除在外的领地 感觉神经元，而交感神经元主动避开默克尔 细胞 将进行研究以检验感官 神经元特异性地识别并响应 默克尔细胞表面，交感神经元积极地 避免默克尔细胞，因为表面上的分子 默克尔细胞诱导神经突起收缩。 单元格类别 参与默克尔细胞间相互作用的表面分子 神经元也会被识别出来。 延时视频显微镜将是 用于研究形成的动态事件， 默克尔细胞上的神经元区域。 神经生长的作用 神经元区域形成和维持的因子 将研究默克尔细胞。 这些研究承诺提供 对神经元形成重要的分子的信息 的特异性

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.