Since the discovery of peripheral nerve regeneration nearly a century ago, the mechanisms that guide this regeneration have been elusive. This project aimed to describe how an axon is able to traverse the environment of the body and precisely reinnervate its target cell. Using a novel technique of combining light and electron microscopy, I observed reinnervating axons in transgenic mice to answer the questions of whether Schwann cells are an important guidance cue for the motor neuron and whether the outgrowing axon is fully developed or the process is a step-wise process of activation. The data suggests that Schwann cell contact is important for the tip of the regenerating axon to guide the axon back to its synapse on the muscle fiber. Further, it seems that the tip of the axon is not capable of synaptic transmission as it lacks active zones, suggesting that reinnervation is a step-wise process. / Department of Physiology and Health Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/188221 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Lakia, Brent M. |
| Contributors | Bishop, Derron L. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 43 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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