| Affiliations: | Neuroscience Research Leadership |
| Project Leader: | Frank Jalufka fjalufka@bio.tamu.edu Biology |
| Faculty Mentor: | Dylan McCreedy, Ph.D. |
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Meeting Times:
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TBD |
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Team Size:
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4
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| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Students will gain experience in scientific communication through presentations of their findings in poster or oral form at local research symposiums and at our weekly lab meetings. Potential for co-authorship on publications is possible depending on level of involvement. Students will gain experience in a variety of biological and imaging techniques in a friendly, collaborative environment
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Team Needs:
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Students will work with rodent models of spinal cord injury and use image analysis techniques to analyze data. Basic understanding of biology is required. Any experience with programming is a plus but not required. Online training through CITI program/traintraq and animal handling in-person training through the comparative medicine program will be required after joining. Lab policy is at least 10 hr/week in lab for undergraduates |
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Description:
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In response to spinal cord injury (SCI) the neuron populations in the spinal cord exhibit limited neuroplasticity, mainly in the formation of detour circuits that attempt to bypass the point of injury. The specific neural population that we’re interested in is the V2a interneuron circuit, which is a key component of the spinal cord’s central pattern generator. These interneurons are responsible for diaphragm contraction and left/right rhythmicity in locomotion, and have been implicated in contributing to motor function recovery following SCI. We’re interested in identifying the specific subtypes of these interneurons that are spared following SCI, and any morphological changes that occur after injury. Using optical tissue clearing, 3D lightsheet microscopy, and computational tracing analysis, we seek to characterize V2a interneuron morphology in the intact spinal cord as well as changes to individual morphologies observed following SCI. This information will provide insight into neuroplasticity of the spinal cord and provide an analysis pipeline for the study of other neural populations |