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Neuroscience
 
Neuroscience Homepage  > Faculty List > Nakagawa
Yasushi Nakagawa, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Stem Cell Institute
nakagawa@umn.edu   
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain development and plasticity.

In our laboratory, we are interested in understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the development and plasticity in mammalian brain, in particular the sensory systems in the forebrain that include dorsal thalamus and neocortex. Efforts in our lab are directed at two major goals. First, we are trying to examine the roles of thalamocortical projections in the formation of functionally and anatomically distinct sensory areas in neocortex. To dissect intrinsic mechanisms operating within neocortex and extrinsic mechanisms conveyed by the thalamic input, we will produce and analyze genetically engineered mice in which neurons of certain thalamic nuclei are specifically ablated during early stage of development. Using these mice, we will analyze the alteration of thalamocortical projections and differentiation of neocortical neurons as assessed by patterns of gene expression and axonal and dendritic development.

Second, we are trying to identify transcription factors that play roles in specification and differentiation of dorsal thalamic nuclei. We will be using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches to examine the roles of genes that we have identified.

The methods that we use to pursue these goals include 1) production of embryonic stem cell-mediated gene targeted mice and transgenic mice that involves a wide variety of basic and advanced molecular biology and cell culture techniques, 2) in utero gene delivery into embryonic brain using an improved electroporation method, 3) analysis of gene and protein expression on sections and whole mount brains by in situ hybridization and immunostaining methods, and 4) classical neuroanatomical techniques such as axon tracing using carbocyanate dyes. We also plan to incorporate live imaging of axonal growth and neuronal activity on living slices.

See also the Stem Cell Institute website.
Selected Publications
Vue, TY., Aaker, J., Taniguchi, A., Kazemzadeh, C., Skidmore, JM., Martin, DM., Martin, JF., Treier, M., and Nakagawa, Y
Characterization of progenitor domains in the developing mouse thalamus.
Journal of Comparative Neurology 2007 505: 73-91
Nakagawa, Y. and O'Leary, DDM.
Patterned expression of orphan nuclear receptor genes RORa and RORb in developing mouse forebrain.
Developmental Neuroscience 2003;25: 233-244
O'Leary, DDM. and Nakagawa, Y.
Patterning center, regulatory genes, and extrinsic mechanisms controlling the arealization of the neocortex.
Current Opinions in Neurobiology 2002 12:14-25
Nakagawa, Y. and O'Leary, DDM.
Combinatorial expression patterns of LIM-homeodomain and other regulatory genes parcellate developing thalamus.
Journal of Neuroscience 2001 21:2711-2725
Nakagawa, Y., Johnson, JE., and O'Leary, DDM.
Graded and areal expression patterns of regulatory genes and cadherins in embryonic neocortex independent of thalamocortical input.
Journal of Neuroscience 1999 19:10877-10885
Tuttle, R.*, Nakagawa, Y.*, Johnson, JE., and O'Leary, DDM.
Defects in thalamocortical axon pathfinding correlate with altered cell domains in Mash-1 deficient mice (*co-first authors).
Development 1999 126:1903-1916

 

 
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