Modulation of gliogenesis by glia-glia and neuron-glia interactions in the olfactory pathway

LUIS ERNESTO ACOSTA; LORENA RELA

Huerta Grande, Córdoba

Congreso; II Reunión Conjunta de Neurociencias; 2010

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

The modulation of neurogenesis by sensory input and the degree of regeneration after damage reveal plasticity in the mammalian afferent olfactory pathway. It has been proposed that the presence of specialized glia, olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), explains this plasticity. The question whether plastic changes in gliogenesis correlate with changes in neurogenesis of olfactory sensory neurons has not been addressed. We hypothesize that glia-glia and neuron-glia interactions are involved in the homeostasis of OEC population size. We expect to observe alterations in OEC number when glial gap junction connectivity is altered or when the rate of neurogenesis changes. We will: 1. Study correlations between gliogenesis and neurogenesis during development and in adult life in conditions that alter neurogenesis.2. Perform lineage analyses to identify cell types in the progeny of proliferating OECs, in transgenic mice that allow us to label isolated cells. 3. Study the role of glial connectivity on gliogenesis, using transgenic mice with reduced levels of connexin 43, a protein that forms OEC gap junctions. These experiments will help to elucidate mechanisms of plasticity of the olfactory pathway and will help the design of therapies using OEC transplants for CNS repair.