The nervous system of animals which is comprised of neurons and nervous tissue, coordinates the activities of muscles. Our studies at the Institute contribute in many ways to study of the nervous system and muscular control.

Neuronal Diversity
Mechanisms involved in formation of various types of neurons during animal development are mainly unknown. At the Institute, experiments have been conducted on the differentiation of GABA producing neurons which make up about 10-25% of neurons of the cerebral cortex in mammals. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter common in the nervous system of many species. GABA neurons at various stages of growth in cultures have been identified and classified on the basis of size. Smaller forms extensively produce high levels of epidermal (skin related) proteins and lower levels of fibroblast (cells of connective tissue) proteins. These finding suggest that epidermal proteins which stimulate cell development and differentiation may also be involved in formation of neuron populations in the cerebral cortex.

Muscle Development
A major interests within neurobiology involves learning about factors that control plasticity of mature neuronal cells. Understanding plasticity is significant for learning about all brain activities such as learning, behavior and cognition. Institute researchers have been studying neuroplasticity by investigating a gene involved in both the early stage development of cartilage, muscle, and brain tissue, as well as in tissues that continue to regenerate in adulthood. We have found that a homeobox gene (capable of turning on/off other groups of genes) known as Barx2 is involved in both early development of muscles and regeneration of muscle fibers in adulthood.

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