The goal of this research program is to investigate the development of the cerebral cortex of the segmental trisomy 16 (Ts65Dn) mouse, a potential animal model of Down syndrome (DS, trisomy 21). Many of the same chromosome 21 genes triplicated in DS are also triplicated in Ts65Dn and therefore, DS and Ts65Dn share a common genetic abnormality. Both DS and Ts65Dn have deficits in spatial learning and memory that are consistent with functional impairment in the frontal cortex. However, there is little information available about the development of the frontal cortex in Ts65Dn. The investigators hypothesize that the spatial learning and memory deficits in Ts65Dn are due to abnormalities in the generation, maturation, and survival of neurons during prenatal neuronogenesis and/or early postnatal neocortical development. The proposed experiments probe the behavior of neuroblasts and young postmitotic neurons in the developing neocortex. During the neuronogenic period, neurons are born and migrate to their final locations and the formation of connections begins. Abnormalities occurring during this period could lead to delayed formation of the pallial layers and cortical connections. During early postnatal life, synapses are formed, interneuronal connections are firmly established, and extra neurons are removed by programmed cell death. Abnormalities during this period could lead to abnormal dendritic organization and synaptogenesis, loss of connections and inappropriate programmed cell death. Defects in neuroblast proliferation, synaptogenesis, connectivity, and programmed cell death during neocortical development could lead to permanent cortical abnormalities responsible for the cognitive deficits in Ts65Dn. Similar defects in human brain development could lead to cognitive deficits in DS.
| Cheng, Aiwu; Haydar, Tarik F; Yarowsky, Paul J et al. (2004) Concurrent generation of subplate and cortical plate neurons in developing trisomy 16 mouse cortex. Dev Neurosci 26:255-65 |
| Bambrick, Linda L; Yarowsky, Paul J; Krueger, Bruce K (2003) Altered astrocyte calcium homeostasis and proliferation in theTs65Dn mouse, a model of Down syndrome. J Neurosci Res 73:89-94 |
