Basic Mechanisms of Neuronal Development, Maintenance and Function in the Basal Ganglia

我们的研究计划旨在发现哺乳动物大脑的不同区域如何获得精确控制的各种类型的神经细胞（神经元）并形成正确的连接。发育中的神经系统产生的神经元远远超过其生存能力。事实上，超过一半的神经元是通过一种被称为细胞凋亡的程序性细胞死亡而死亡的。决定神经元亚型存活的一个主要因素是它们是否能够获得足够的生存分子，即神经营养因子。为了获得正确的神经营养因子，神经细胞必须表达受体分子，该受体分子识别神经营养因子并促进其存活作用。此外，优选的是，神经细胞响应于其环境中的某种形式的活动而存活，从而允许激活输入纤维与正确数量和类型的神经元相匹配，以最终可用于成人神经系统的健康功能。

Our research program aims at discovering how different areas of the mammalian brain acquire a precisely controlled complement of diverse types of nerve cells (neurons) and form the right connections. The developing nervous system generates far more neurons than can survive. Indeed, over half the neurons that are produced die by a form of programmed cell death known as apoptosis. A major factor determining which neuron subtypes survive is whether they are able to get adequate access to survival molecules known as neurotrophins. In order to acquire the correct neurotrophin, the nerve cell must express a receptor molecule, which recognizes the neurotrophin and facilities its survival action. Furthermore, it is preferable that nerve cells survive in response to some form of activity in their environment, allowing for a matching of activating input fivers, with the correct number and type of neurons to be ultimately available for healthy function of the adult nervous system.