Patterned and topographic organization of neural connections is an essential structural substrate for processing sensory information in the brain. The long-term objective of this proposal is to determine cellular mechanisms underlying the establishment of such neural networks in the somatosensory system. In the rodent trigeminal system, the spatial organization of the mystacial vibrissae on the snout is replicated in a one-to-one fashion by neural modules found in the brainstem trigeminal nuclei, the dorsal thalamus, and the somatosensory cortex. In this research we shall use the trigeminal brainstem from transgenic and knockout mice to reveal specific cellular mechanisms underlying pattern formation and structural plasticity during development. Combined electrophysiological, pharmacological and anatomical techniques will be used to chart out membrane properties, synaptic responses, and NMDA receptor and L-Type calcium channel-mediated response characteristics. A clear understanding of cellular and molecular events during coupling of select sets of pre and postsynaptic elements that form sensory periphery-related patterns is a key step in delineating how specific neuronal assemblies form in the mammalian brain, and how these neuronal assemblies are modified following peripheral nerve injury. A solid understanding of these mechanisms is critical for preventing or repairing often-irreversible effects of damage to the developing human nervous system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS037070-06
Application #
6803927
Study Section
Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience 8 (IFCN)
Program Officer
Riddle, Robert D
Project Start
1998-08-21
Project End
2008-07-31
Budget Start
2004-08-01
Budget End
2005-07-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$295,538
Indirect Cost
Name
Louisiana State University Hsc New Orleans
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
782627814
City
New Orleans
State
LA
Country
United States
Zip Code
70112
Erzurumlu, Reha S (2016) CNS consequences of perinatal peripheral injuries. Exp Neurol 275 Pt 2:243-4
Tsytsarev, Vassiliy; Pumbo, Elena; Tang, Qinggong et al. (2016) Study of the cortical representation of whisker frequency selectivity using voltage-sensitive dye optical imaging. Intravital 5:e1142637
Lo, Fu-Sun; Erzurumlu, Reha S (2016) Sensory Activity-Dependent and Sensory Activity-Independent Properties of the Developing Rodent Trigeminal Principal Nucleus. Dev Neurosci 38:163-170
Suzuki, A; Lee, L-J; Hayashi, Y et al. (2015) Thalamic adenylyl cyclase 1 is required for barrel formation in the somatosensory cortex. Neuroscience 290:518-29
Lo, Fu-Sun; Zhao, Shuxin; Erzurumlu, Reha S (2014) Neonatal infraorbital nerve crush-induced CNS synaptic plasticity and functional recovery. J Neurophysiol 111:1590-600
Arakawa, Hiroyuki; Suzuki, Ayumi; Zhao, Shuxin et al. (2014) Thalamic NMDA receptor function is necessary for patterning of the thalamocortical somatosensory map and for sensorimotor behaviors. J Neurosci 34:12001-14
Kivrak, Beril G; Erzurumlu, Reha S (2013) Development of the principal nucleus trigeminal lemniscal projections in the mouse. J Comp Neurol 521:299-311
Mirza, Rusella; Kivrak, Beril G; Erzurumlu, Reha S (2013) Cooperative slit and netrin signaling in contralateralization of the mouse trigeminothalamic pathway. J Comp Neurol 521:312-25
Erzurumlu, Reha S; Gaspar, Patricia (2012) Development and critical period plasticity of the barrel cortex. Eur J Neurosci 35:1540-53
Lo, Fu-Sun; Zhao, Shuxin; Erzurumlu, Reha S (2011) Astrocytes promote peripheral nerve injury-induced reactive synaptogenesis in the neonatal CNS. J Neurophysiol 106:2876-87

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