The overall objective of the proposed research is to establish a quantitative framework for investigating the mechanisms governing nerve growth through tissue during development and regeneration. This framework will consist of: i) key parameters characterizing fundamental processes contributing to neurite outgrowth in a general environment, and ii) a mathematical model of nerve growth based on these parameters. A secondary objective is the development of an experimental model tissue for evaluation and manipulation of nerve growth. The work in this proposal focuses on one component of that model tissue, the extracellular matrix molecule, collagen.
