CHOLESTEROL IN VIVO · The role of neuronal cholesterol biosynthesis in cortical development and for the function of cerebellar granule cells

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Project objective

Cholesterol is an essential component of membrane lipid rafts and required for the development of neurons andglial cells in the central nervous system. The cellular source of cholesterol required for neurogenesis is unknown,but for synaptogenesis, a role o f astroglial cells has been hypothesized. To study the effect of cholesterolavailability during postnatal brain development in vivo, we have obtained a conditional mouse mutant that allowsinactivation of cholesterol biosynthesis in a cell-specific manner. Using the cre-lox system and two different Creexpressing lines, we will inactivate cholesterol synthesis in postmitotic cortical neurons and in postmigratorycerebellar granule cells. Neuronal differentiation and function will be assessed at early and late stages of braindevelopment using anatomical and histological techniques, behavior assays, as well as cell culture approaches.We hope that investigation of the basic cholesterol metabolism in the brain will help to understand the etiology ofdiseases linked to cholesterol metabolism, such as Alzheimer's disease or Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.'

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Participants

• MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V. · MUENCHENCoordinatorGermany

Links

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