Ava Rosenzweig Davidovits
Research Mentor(s): Bing Ye
Mentor Department: Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan
Authors: Ty Hergenreder, Bing Ye
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 93
Abstract
Disruptions in neurogenesis can lead to conditions such as Down syndrome or autism. Neurogenesis, the development of new neurons, is regulated by GABAergic synapses, which in turn are regulated by the Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule (DSCAM) gene. DSCAM, located on chromosome 21 facilitates neural connections, and is over expressed in individuals with Down syndrome. Previous studies have demonstrated direct correlation between DSCAM over expression, increased axon terminal length, and increased activity in inhibitory GABAergic neurons. However, the under expression of DSCAM has inverse implications on neuronal development. Specifically, the under expression of DSCAM has a connection to autistic behaviors such as increased time needed for learning certain behaviors/activities. We aim to study how the under expression of DSCAM affects neurogenesis and behavior in DSCAM 2j mice models. This will be done by analyzing the dentate gyrus through immunohistochemistry staining for Nestin, MCM2, and DAPI antibodies. I hypothesize that decreased DSCAM expression will result in reduced excitation of inhibitory neurons and decreased axonal development. This study aims to provide insights into the relationship between DSCAM expression levels and neural development, contributing to our understanding of the effect of neurogenesis on neural development.
