Development and Plasticity of the
Vertebrate Retina and Visual Pathway

Coordinator:
Carlos B. Duarte, Ph.D.
CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE OF COIMBRA
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF COIMBRA
3004-517 COIMBRA
PORTUGAL

Instructors:
Donald Sakaguchi, Ph.D.
Assoc. Prof. Dept. Zoology and Genetics
Chair, Neuroscience Program
Dept. Zoology and Genetics
Iowa State University
339 Science II
Ames, IA 50011
dssakagu@iastate.edu
Michael Young, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Schepens Eye Research Institute,
Dept. of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School
20 Staniford Street
Boston, MA 02114
mikey@vision.eri.harvard.edu

Topics on development:
1) Neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in the vertebrate retina
2) Formation of retinotectal connections
3) Activity and the development of the retinal projection

Topics on plasticity:
1) Neural transplants to repair the damaged CNS
2) Therapeutic strategies for retinal restoration
3) Stem cells: what are they and what can they do

For reference list.


Course Schedule (subject to change):
Lectures and Journal club:
"Serviço de Higiene", Faculty of Medicine, 2nd floor, Rm. 16

Seminars:
Wednesday:
"Serviço de Química Fisiológica", Faculty of Medicine, ground floor, Lecture room.
Friday:
IBILI, Lecture room.

Day/Time Topics
MONDAY APRIL 16, 2001
9:00-10:15 AM Lecture: D. Sakaguchi
Retinal development: Neurogenesis and differentiation 1
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Lecture: D. Sakaguchi
Retinal development: Neurogenesis and differentiation 2
11:45-1:00 PM Break
1:00-5:00 PM Laboratory/Practical: D. Sakaguchi; Neuronal Tract-Tracing 1
Lecture and Lab: Neuronal Tract-Tracing 1
   
TUESDAY APRIL 17, 2001
9:00-10:15 AM Lecture: D. Sakaguchi
Formation of retinotectal connections
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Lecture: D. Sakaguchi
Activity and the development of the retinal projection
11:45-1:00 PM Break
1:00-5:00 PM Laboratory/Practical: D. Sakaguchi;
Neuronal Tract-Tracing 2
   
WED. APRIL 18, 2001
9:00-10:15 AM Lecture: M. Young
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Lecture: Bioethics
11:45-1:00 PM Break
1:00-3:30 PM Laboratory/Practical: D. Sakaguchi; Neuronal Tract-Tracing 3
4:15 Seminar: Don Sakaguchi: "Differential expression of SNARE complex proteins SNAP-25, Syntaxin and VAMP during development of the mammalian retina"
Room: "Serviço de Química Fisiológica", Faculty of Medicine, ground floor, Lecture room.
   
THURSDAY APRIL 19, 2001
9:00-10:15 AM Lecture: M. Young
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Lecture: M. Young
11:45-1:00 PM Break
1:00-3:00 PM Laboratory/Practical: M. Young
Isolation and culturing of neural stem cells 1
3:00-5:00 PM Journal club discussion session: Student presentations of current topic in neural development and plasticity. For list of references.
Room: "Serviço de Higiene", Faculty of Medicine, 2nd floor, Rm. 16
   
FRIDAY APRIL 20, 2001
9:00-10:15 AM Lecture: M. Young
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Lecture: M. Young
11:45-1:00 PM Break
1:00-3:30 PM Laboratory/Practical: M. Young
Isolation and culturing of neural stem cells 2
4:15 Seminar: Michael Young: "CNS stem cell transplants in rodent models of retinal degeneration"
Room: IBILI, Lecture room.

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