Thursday, May 22, 2025
5/22/2025
Regeneration of Thalamopallial Projections and Sensory Function in the Salamander Brain - Project Summary The pallium is a significant vertebrate brain division that includes the mammalian cerebral cortex. In salamanders, the pallium exhibits a remarkable ability to regenerate neurons, making this a valuable model to understand how function can be restored in injured brains. Although pallial neurons can regenerate, we do not know if synaptic inputs to the regenerated pallium are restored. The project uses whole brain light sheet microscopy to examine whether inputs to the pallium from the thalamus are restored after a large pallial lesion. The first aim in this proposal will map and compare thalamopallial projections in the uninjured and regenerated pallium. These experiments will demonstrate whether the regenerated pallium is re-innervated by thalamic axons following pallial lesion. The second aim describe the regionalized activity of pallial neurons in response to thalamic sensory stimuli. These experiments will determine whether regionalized sensory activity returns in the regenerated pallial area. This research project will support the fellow's development of skills that include image analysis, neuron tracing, and scientific communication.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).