dc.contributor.advisor | Hiebert, Scott W. | |
dc.contributor.advisor | Carter, Bruce D. | |
dc.creator | Trevisan, Alexandra J. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-09-22T22:13:46Z | |
dc.date.created | 2020-05 | |
dc.date.issued | 2020-03-30 | |
dc.date.submitted | May 2020 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1803/16044 | |
dc.description.abstract | The dorsal root ganglia (DRG) house the primary afferent neurons responsible for somatosensation, including pain. We previously identified Jedi-1 (PEAR1/MEGF12) as a phagocytic receptor expressed by satellite glia in the DRG involved in clearing apoptotic neurons during development. Here, we further investigated the function of this receptor in vivo using Jedi-1 null mice. In addition to satellite glia, we found Jedi-1 expression in perineurial glia and endothelial cells, but not in sensory neurons. We did not detect any morphological or functional changes in the glial cells or vasculature of Jedi-1 knockout mice. Surprisingly, we did observe changes in DRG neuron activity. In neurons from Jedi-1 knockout (KO) mice, there was an increase in the fraction of capsaicin-sensitive cells relative to wild type (WT) controls. Patch-clamp electrophysiology revealed an increase in excitability, with a shift from phasic to tonic action potential firing patterns in KO neurons. We also found alterations in the properties of voltage-gated sodium channel currents in Jedi-1 null neurons. These results provide new insight into the expression pattern of Jedi-1 in the peripheral nervous system and indicate that loss of Jedi-1 alters DRG neuron activity indirectly through an intercellular interaction between non-neuronal cells and sensory neurons. | |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.subject | Somatosensation, Jedi, Pain, Pruritus, Phagocytosis, Dorsal root ganglia | |
dc.title | Examination of a mouse model lacking the engulfment receptor Jedi | |
dc.type | Thesis | |
dc.date.updated | 2020-09-22T22:13:46Z | |
dc.type.material | text | |
thesis.degree.name | PhD | |
thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | |
thesis.degree.discipline | Biochemistry | |
thesis.degree.grantor | Vanderbilt University Graduate School | |
local.embargo.terms | 2022-05-01 | |
local.embargo.lift | 2022-05-01 | |
dc.creator.orcid | 0000-0002-8887-4444 | |