Structural dynamics and synaptic development in the visual system
Name
56053525-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
10.73 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
e788e0f0068670f8c34d187c5ab8b7e8
Author(s)
Oray, Serkan, 1974-
Advisor(s)
Mriganka Sur.
Date Issued
2004
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This thesis takes as its subject three model systems which exhibit interesting properties in the developing nervous system. The first study details the developmental properties of dendritic spines, the principle sites of excitatory synaptic contacts, during a period of synaptogenesis in the developing mouse cortex. The second study extends these findings and examines the properties of dendritic spines during a period of heightened visual cortical plasticity and describes how manipulations of visual input alter these dendritic structures. The third and final study examines the distribution of glutamate receptors, which are key components of excitatory synaptic contacts, during a period of stereotyped anatomical plasticity in the developing ferret lateral geniculate nucleus. Each of these studies focus specifically on the interactions between neuronal structure and function, principally at the level of synaptic contacts. The conclusions of this thesis are that structure and function are intimately related and that altering one has important consequences for the other.
Description
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-126).
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Subjects
Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
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