Neuronal migration and axonal guidance

Dr. Yip’s group is interested in neuronal proliferation, migration and axon guidance. Their current research on the chick and mouse sympathetic system is aimed at determining: 1) whether the specification of preganglionic neurons is under genetic or epigenetic control, 2) the pathway and guidance cues in the migration of preganglionic neurons, and 3) whether the projection of preganglionic axons toward their target area is guided by chemoattractant molecules. Neural transplantations, tissue culture, BrdU labeling, lineage tracers, monoclonal antibody production, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, anterograde and retrograde neuronal tracings, and light and electromicro- scopy are used in the pursuit of these problems.

Trainees in Dr. Yip’s laboratory have the opportunity to learn how to combine modern cell and molecular biological techniques and classical techniques in experimental embryology to answer major unresolved questions on neural development.

Yip, J.W. Specificity of sympathetic preganglionic projections in the chick is influenced by the somitic mesoderm. J. Neurosci. 16: 612-620, 1996.

Yip, J.W., Yip, Y.P.L., and Capriotti, C. Specific projections of sympathetic preganglionic neurons are not intrinsically determined by segmental origins of their cell bodies. J. Neurobiol., 35: 371-378, 1998.

Yip, J.W., Yip, Y.P.L, and Capriotti, C. Segmented specificity of chick sympathetic preganglionic projections is influenced by preganglionic neurons from neighboring spinal cord segments. J. Neurosci 18: 10473-10480, 1998.

Yip, J.W., Yip, Y.P.L., Nakajima, K., and Capriotti, C. Reelin controls position of autonomic neurons in the spinal cord. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 97: 8612-8616 (2000).

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