Our goal is to understand the molecular basis for the specificity of interactions between neurons in the nervous system. The application of hybridoma technology to analyze the molecular organization of neurons is currently one of the most promising approaches to this goal. The leech is particularly suited to this study because of the simple anatomy of it's nervous system, the detailed characterization of many identified neurons, our knowledge of synaptic circuits regulating rythmic behaviours and the analysis of neural development at the single cell level. We have developed an array of monoclonal antibodies which identify antigens present in individual neurons and groups of neurons. These antigens are found in electrophysiologically defined subsets of neurons. No special class of molecule distinguishes one neuron from another suggesting that understanding neuronal diversity will require knowledge of several distinct types of molecule. We have focussed on extending our observation that sterotypically located fascicles of axons carry specific surface glyco-protein antigens in the adult and embryo. The experiments in this proposal are designed to use monoclonal antibodies to extend our knowledge of axon organization so that we gain insight into general rules which govern axon morphology and consequently synaptic interactions at the molecular level.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS021991-02
Application #
3403798
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1984-08-01
Project End
1987-07-31
Budget Start
1985-08-01
Budget End
1986-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Erzurumlu, R S; McKay, R D; Jhaveri, S (1994) Morphological specification of trigeminal neurites depends on target fields. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 83:132-7
Erzurumlu, R S; Jhaveri, S; Takahashi, H et al. (1993) Target-derived influences on axon growth modes in cultures of trigeminal neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 90:7235-9
Whittemore, S R; Holets, V R; Keane, R W et al. (1991) Transplantation of a temperature-sensitive, nerve growth factor-secreting, neuroblastoma cell line into adult rats with fimbria-fornix lesions rescues cholinergic septal neurons. J Neurosci Res 28:156-70