Neuron-specific modulations of vertebrate myelination and their effects on neuronal function

最近在啮齿动物和斑马鱼中使用强大的基因操作的研究表明，髓鞘形成依赖于神经元的活动，尽管我们仍然不知道髓鞘形成如何影响不同神经元的功能。在发育过程中，不同的髓鞘形成模式取决于轴突的几何形状和神经元的特性。目前还没有方法以神经元特异性的方式在原本完整的中枢神经系统中抑制髓鞘。我的项目旨在开发这种方法，并研究神经元的功能和生存能力。我将用转基因模型这样做，特别是在斑马鱼和老鼠身上，以改变目标基因的表达。一旦这些技术被开发出来，我将评估受影响神经元的形态、活性和生理活性。

Recent studies using powerful genetic manipulations in rodents and zebrafish showed that myelination is dependent on neuronal activity although we still don't know how myelination affects the function of different neurons. During development, different patterns of myelination arise that depend on axonal geometry and neuronal identity. There are currently no methods to inhibit myelin in a neuronal-specific way in an otherwise intact CNS. My project aims to develop such methods and to study neuronal function and viability. I will do so with genetically modified models, specifically in zebrafish and mice, to modify the expression of the target genes. Once the techniques are developed, I will assess the morphology, viability, and physiological activity of the affected neurons.