Primary sensory neurons are one of the major components of the peripheral nervous system and are required for collecting and transmitting information regarding the external and internal environment to the central nervous system (CNS). The cell bodies of these neurons are located in peripheral ganglia adjacent to the spinal cord and associated with cranial nerves V, VII, IX and X (cranial nerves I, II, VIII also carry sensory information but have specialized sensory organs that detect specific stimuli).
Primary sensory neurons whose cells bodies are found in spinal ganglia (also called dorsal root ganglia (DRG)) have been the focus of intense scientific investigation because of their role in transmitting sensation including those associated with pain and as a model system for understanding mechanisms of development and plasticity.
The studies presented in this dissertation focus on the interactions between primary sensory neurons and growth factors that regulate developmental events, as well as adult physiology. In particular, these studies examine sensory neurons that respond to the growth factor neurturin (NRTN), the majority of which innervate the epidermis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-08042011-111349 |
| Date | 10 August 2011 |
| Creators | Wang, Ting |
| Contributors | Gerald F. Gebhart, Brian M. Davis, Richard Koerber, Kathryn M. Albers, Linda Rinaman, Cynthia M. Hingtgen |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08042011-111349/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Pittsburgh or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
Page generated in 0.0013 seconds