Topic: mitochondrial morphology

In the developing hippocampus, once generated, the pyramidal neurons migrate along radial glia processes to form the complex CA regions. Therefore, it is critical to understand the mechanisms controlling neuronal motility, leading to coordinated neuronal function. Doublecortin (DCX) shows mutations in human lissencephaly and heterotopia associated with epilepsy and intellectual disability. In the Dcx mouse mutant, the CA3 pyramidal region in the hippocampus forms an abnormal double layer, typical of heterotopia. Consequently, the mutant mouse presents an increased susceptibility to epilepsy. S

This research project investigates the role of lipid droplets (LDs) in neuronal survival and dysfunction, focussing on two human in vitro models of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs): neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line exposed to 6-OHDA for Parkinson’s, and primary human fibroblasts from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients.Valid and reliable experimental tools for LDs detection and quantification were set up in SH-SY5Y. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was combined with image analysis, allowing an automatic and objective quantification of LDs in basal conditions, and in response to LDs modulation a