Multiphoton-Intravital-Microscope

• Subject Area: Neurosciences
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 445313138

Essential processes in the central nervous system ranging from homeostatic control to complex signaling cascades underlying neuronal plasticity are highly dependent on a concerted interplay of different cell types including neurons, microglia and astrocytes. Especially the role of the microglial cells, which represent the principal immune cells in the CNS, remains mostly elusive. Using multiphoton microscopy in living mice we plan to investigate the complex interplay of different brain cell types in their natural environment. The chronic analysis of cell dynamics and interaction in mouse models of Alzheimer´s disease or Rett syndrome but also following contact with various pathogenes like the influenza A virus or toxoplasma gondii will allow a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for neurological symptoms. Using the implantation of chronic transcranial windows will allow us to monitor onset and progression of disease phenotypes and correlated alterations in cell dynamics as well as interaction of different cell types in the same animal over long periods of time. These findings can then be correlated to data derived from analysis of cognitive behavior, gene expression, protein localization or synaptic plasticity to allow a deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Multiphotonen-Intravital-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Leader: Professor Dr. Martin Korte