Сư³æ´«Ã½

Developmental neurobiology

wsbim2155  2024-2025  Bruxelles Woluwe

Developmental neurobiology
4.00 credits
30.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Language
French
Prerequisites
none
Main themes
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.
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 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
- to make anatomical and functional links between developing structures and structures of the adult nervous system
The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitledÌý'Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit'.
 
Content
All the lectures will be delivered in english. They will address the following topics :
1.ÌýÌýÌý Neural induction and neurulation
2.ÌýÌýÌý Antero-posterior and dorso-ventral patterning of the nervous system
3.ÌýÌýÌý Neural stem cells and neurogenesis
4.ÌýÌýÌý Neuronal specification and differentiation
5.ÌýÌýÌý Neuronal migration
6.ÌýÌýÌý Neuronal survival and neuronal death
7. ÌýÌý Neural crest cells
8.Ìý ÌýÌýAxonal growth and guidance
9.Ìý ÌýÌýDevelopment of glial cells, myelinisation
10.Ìý Synaptogenesis and synaptic pruning
11. ÌýNeural circuit formation and activity-dependent maturation
12. ÌýDevelopmental alterations of the nervous system
13. ÌýSpecific experimental approaches
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Teaching methods
The course will be given as a series of lectures including collective analysis of key research articles or textbook chapters. Exercises based on in silico training or searches (expression databases, ...) or laboratory demonstrations could be organized.
Ìý
Ìý
Evaluation methods
Oral examination (online). The students have the choice to take the examination in english or in french.
Ìý
Ìý
Online resources
Available on Moodle : pdf file of the slides; copies of articles or textbook chapters; web sites
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Teaching materials
  • Slides mis à disposition par l'enseignant
Faculty or entity


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Biomedicine

Master [60] in Biomedicine