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Query: faculty: "FNWI" and publication year: "2006"

AuthorJurjen Broeke
TitleThe Relation Between Network Morphology and Function in the Oligophrenin-1 Model for X-linked Mental Retardation
SupervisorsGer Ramakers, Wytse Wadman
Year2006
FacultyFaculty of Science
ProgrammeFNWI MSc Brain and Cognitive Sciences
AbstractA mutation in the oligophrenin-1 gene causes X-linked mental retardation (MRX) and affects the Rho-GTPase signalling pathway. The effect of oligophrenin-1 knockout was investigated in cultured cortical neurons from fetal mouse brains, by analyzing the morphology of the network and in parallel the function of the network using multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) during development. There is a decrease in axonal branching and an increase in intermediate segment length of axons in knockout mice compared to wild type mice at 3 days in vitro, as well as an increase in growth cone density on dendrites. The electrophysiological experiments show a trend towards a decrease in activity over time in knockout cultures (0-14 days in vitro) compared to wild type cultures. Taken together, less branching of axons might lead to less output, and less and smaller dendritic growth cones to less possibility for receiving input and together to less activity.
Document type scriptie master
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