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Project

Role of glial cells in the assembly and function of enteric neuron circuitry.

To accurately coordinate different gastrointestinal functions more or less independent of the brain, the gut has a nervous system of its own. This so called enteric nervous system comprises besides different types of neurons that are organized in specialized circuits, also a significant number of glial cells. These cells were long believed just to be the glue that kept neurons together but in the past decade, many studies have expanded this support role to encompass many aspects of neurobiology and neurophysiology. A good example is the recently demonstrated communication from enteric neurons to glia. We hypothesize that enteric glial cells, which are derived from the same precursor cells as enteric neurons, play an important role in the generation and function of enteric neuron circuitry, both during development and adult life. Therefore, the aims of the current research project are to define the interactions between neurons and enteric glial cells during development and to unravel the role of glial cells in enteric synapse assembly and function.
Date:1 Oct 2010 →  30 Sep 2016
Keywords:Neuronal wiring, Glial cells, Enteric nervous system, Synaptic communication
Disciplines:Genetics, Gynaecology and obstetrics, Molecular and cell biology, Morphological sciences, Gastro-enterology and hepatology, Neurosciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing