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| Neuroscience
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Karen A. Mesce, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Entomology
mesce001@umn.edu |
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 Neural
systems and neurodevelopment.
We are investigating the neural mechanisms underlying the generation
of behavior in simpler invertebrate "model" systems. Currently, we
are studying the structure and function of neurons in the medicinal
leech, Hirudo medicinalis and the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta.
These preparations were chosen for study because individual neurons
can be identified from animal to animal and followed through development.
Many of our research projects involve an examination of how neurons
change during development to give rise to adult-specific behaviors.
As Manduca develops from the larval to adult form, dramatic
changes in its nervous system are observed. Some larval neurons (not
needed by the adult) undergo developmentally programmed cell death,
while others are retained and re-modeled; their morphology and synaptic
contacts become altered. In addition, many new neurons are generated
de novo and are used only in the adult stage. Our goals are to understand
how all of these changes, which are under hormonal regulation, contribute
to the "construction" of particular adult behaviors. We have focused
on the re-use of larval interneurons and the cellular mechanisms that
enable "old" neurons to be incorporated into the adult nervous system
to generate new behaviors.
Our methods include: intra- and extracellular electrophysiological
techniques, intracellular dye injection, laser scanning confocal microscopy,
immunocytochemistry, and behavioral analysis. |
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Selected Publications
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Crisp KM, Mesce KA
Beyond the central pattern generator: amine modulation of decision-making neural pathways descending from the brain of the medicinal leech.
J Exp Biol, 2006 May;209(Pt 9): 1746-56. |
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Goode K, Huber Z, Mesce K, Spivak M.
Hygienic behavior in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is independent of sucrose responsiveness and foraging ontogeny.
Horm Behav, 2006 Mar;49(3):391-7. |
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Fahrbach SE, Mesce KA
"Neuroethoendocrinology": integration of field and laboratory studies in insect neuroendocrinology.
Horm Behav, 2005 Nov;48(4):352-9.
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Crisp KM, Mesce KA.
A cephalic projection neuron involved in locomotion is dye coupled to the dopaminergic neural network in the medicinal leech.
J Exp Biol, 2004 Dec;207(Pt 26):4535-42. |
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Crisp, KM, Mesce KA
To swim or not to swim: regional effects of serotonin, octopamine and amine in medicinal leech.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Behav Physiol 2003 Jun;189(6):461-470. |
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