Functional integration of transplanted neuronal precursors after targeted degeneration of callosal projection neurons

• Applicant: Dr. Thomas Wuttke
• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 77063178

Several neurodegenerative and acquired diseases of the central nervous system are associated with a loss of projection neurons. Callosal projection neurons (CPN), for example, form a particularly vulnerable cell population in Alzheimer’s disease. In Huntington’s disease, striatal projection neurons account for a large share of the total neuronal loss. Corticospinal projection neurons degenerate in motorneuron disease/ALS as well as after stroke or spinal cord trauma. Whether neuroregenerative approaches by transplantation of immature neurons and precursors could succeed depends to a great extent on the ability of newly incorporated neurons to precisely integrate anatomically and physiologically in central nervous system circuitry. This project aims to evaluate the functional integration of newly incorporated neurons after transplantation in regions of targeted neuronal degeneration of cortico callosal projection neurons using electrophysiological approaches. The intrinsic electrophysiological properties and the extent of synaptic integration of transplanted neuroblasts will be assessed and compared to parameters obtained for native projection neurons.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Dr. Jeffrey D. Macklis