Neurobiologie du développement [ WSBIM2155 ]

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The aim of these lectures is to address the developmental processes that contribute to the formation of the central and of the peripheral nervous system, and the molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms that regulate these processes. The development will be studied from the initial formation of the neural tissue (neurulation) to the wiring of interconnected functional circuits. Mechanistic aspects will focus on the genetic regulators and signalling pathways involved in neural induction, patterning of the nervous system (morphogens), neuronal and glial differentiation, neuronal migration, axonal growth and guidance and synaptogenesis, and on activity-dependent maturation of neural circuitry. The alterations of the development of the nervous system, either of endogenous or exogenous origin, will be analyzed. Finally, the experimental approaches specifically dedicated to the study of neural development will be presented.

At the end of the course, the student will be able :

- to describe the processes that contribute to the formation of the structures of the central and peripheral nervous system, and to explain the developmental relationships between these structures

- to understand and compare the regulatory mechanisms that are activated during development in different regions of the nervous system (organizing centres, control of neurogenesis, of neuronal differentiation and migration, of axonal growth, of synaptogenesis and of circuit formation)

- to explain the mechanisms and the consequences of endogenous or exogenous alterations of these processes

- to propose adequate experimental strategies to study specific aspects of neural development

oral or written examination, open questions with short answers

The lectures will address the following topics :

1.    Neural induction and neurulation

2.    Antero-posterior and dorso-ventral patterning of the nervous system

3.    Neural stem cells and neurogenesis

4.    Neuronal specification and differentiation

5.    Neuronal migration

6.    Neuronal survival and neuronal death

7.    Neural crest cells

8.    Axonal growth and guidance

9.    Development of glial cells, myelinisation

10.  Synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning

11.  Neural circuit formation and activity-dependent maturation

12.  Developmental alterations of the nervous system

13.  Specific experimental approaches

The course will be given as a series of lectures including collective analysis of key research articles. Exercises based on in silico training or searches (expression databases, ') or laboratory demonstrations could be organized.

Pdf file of the slides; copies of articles; web sites