Objetivo Molecular mechanisms of neural development and network formation, which provide the basis of brain activity and a clue to brain dysfunctions, recruit neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAM) and excitatory amino acid receptors that are arranged on cell surfaces. This arrangement is believed to depend upon the cytoskeleton and alters with neural developmental and plastic changes, thus contributing to mechanisms of intra- and extra-cellular signalling. Subtle relationships between the cell plasma membrane organization, the state of the cytoskeleton, and neural development and plasticity have to be highlighted. A quantitative examination, at the electron-microscopic (EM) level, will be undertaken of the (re-)arrangement of N-CAM and/or glutamate receptors (Glu-R) labelled with specific immunogold on surfaces of developing nerve cells in: an in vivo model of neural plasticity, a one-trial passive avoidance task in one-day chicks and in adult rats; and an in vitro model, a monolayer culture of hippocampus cells that allows disruption of neuron cytoskeletal elements in different developmental stages. Computerized microscopy, recently developed stereological and image analysis techniques, as well as stochastic approaches, will be employed to quantify and compare statistically the surface expression and topographies of N-CAM (in both models) and Glu-R (in vitro) with regard to: identified forebrain regions from control and trained chicks and rats; two stages of culture development; control cultured nerve cells and those with disrupted microtubules, actin- or neurofilamens; cell somata, processes, growth cones. The results will allow determination of subtle relationships between the lateral organization of the two proteins in neuronal membranes, the state of the cytoskeleton, and the phenomena of development and/or plasticity. While the in vitro studies will elucidate data about cellular mechanisms of the cytoskeleton -membrane interactions and the age-dependent plasmalemma organization, the in vivo model will enable us to determine how these mechanisms can contribute to the actual process of memorization. Such results will provide insights into molecular mechanisms involved in neural circuitry within the central nervous system. Programa(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Tema(s) 42 - Physical Chemical Biology Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación Data not available Coordinador Open University Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Walton Hall MK7 6AA Milton Keynes Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Participantes (5) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo Dnepropetrovsk State University Ucrania Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 320027 Dniepropetrovsk Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Francia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 49033 Angers Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Københavns Universitet Dinamarca Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 2200 København Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Ucrania Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección GSP 252601 Kiev Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos Russian Academy of Sciences Rusia Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección 117871 Moscow V-437 Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos