The PI has found that the ventral midbrain has a transient organization into regularly spaced wedges of tissue distinguished by morphology and histochemistry. The wedges can even be visualized from the ventricular surface as a series of ridges and grooves. The pattern is remarkably similar to the rhombomeres of the hindbrain and they bear a number of anatomical markers that make them essentially as interesting for long term studies. The PI has called these structures midbrain arcs. He hypothesizes logically that these zones of tissue may constitute an early patterning mechanism for organizing neurons and their nuclei with differing neuronal fates as well as the axon projection patterns that arise from and connect with the arcs. He proposes a number of straightforward although technically difficult goals with which to study these various questions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01NS035680-03S2
Application #
6484583
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 2 (NEUB)
Program Officer
Finkelstein, Robert
Project Start
1998-08-01
Project End
2001-12-14
Budget Start
2000-07-01
Budget End
2001-12-14
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$25,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
225410919
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Berthoud, Viviana M; Singh, Rashmi; Minogue, Peter J et al. (2004) Highly restricted pattern of connexin36 expression in chick somite development. Anat Embryol (Berl) 209:11-8