This is a resubmitted application to determine the role, if any, of microglia in neuronal protection and assistance in regeneration following injury. It has three specific aims.
The first aim i s to measure the cytokines produced by microglia during the regeneration of the facial nerve neurons following axotomy and during rubrospinal nucleus neuronal degeneration following lateral funiculotomy. By RT-PCR synthesis of a number of cytokines and growth factors will be assayed and the time course of their synthesis defined. The second specific aim is to determine if CGRP synthesized by injured neurons activates microglial cells and causes their proliferation, cytokine synthesis or neurotrophin production. This will be done by both histochemical and RT-PCR techniques. In the third aim he will compare and hopefully identify genes differentially expressed by microglial cells in vitro and ex vivo. He will compare unstimulated, LPS activated and CGRP-stimulated microglial cells in vitro. With microglial cells freshly isolated from the facial nucleus following different stimuli, he will compare resting microglia, phagocytic microglia and reactive/activated microglial cells. He will subsequently clone and/or identify by partial sequences the genes differentially expressed.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS035091-03
Application #
2858189
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-NLS-3 (01))
Program Officer
Kitt, Cheryl A
Project Start
1997-03-01
Project End
2001-12-31
Budget Start
1999-01-01
Budget End
2001-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073130411
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611