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Imagine
a future where neurosurgeons could implant new neurons into damaged areas of
the brain or replace neurons lost to aging, or even enhance areas of the
normal brain.
I let this
future begin today by investigating the
biology of postnatal neurogenesis in vitro and in animal models
utilizing technologies in cell biology, molecular biology and histology.
Some spontaneous generation of new neurons
occurs in the adult mammalian nervous system. However, the addition of new
neurons and replacement of damaged neurons is very limited. Therefore,
identification of neuronal populations that can be stimulated to proliferate
and differentiate into viable neurons is one of the major challenges for
developing therapeutic strategies to repair neurological damage. Recently,
we discovered that neurons of the viscerosensory nodose ganglia in adult
rats proliferate, following systemic treatment with capsaicin, the active
component of chili peppers. These data suggest that the nodose ganglia, and
perhaps other primary afferent ganglia, may provide a model system for
examining neurogenesis in the adult animal, and perhaps it could provide a
source of neurons or precursors for autologous treatment of neurological
injuries.
However, the demonstration of adult neurogenesis in rat nodose ganglion
raises many more questions than answers. Where did these new neurons
originate and what happens to them? Do these new neurons cumulatively add to
the population of older cells, or do they replace older neurons with no net
increase in cell number? How many of these neurons extend axons, receive
synaptic input, and produce action potentials? It is essential to address
these critical questions before detailed exploration of the mechanisms that
underlie cellular proliferation in the adult nodose ganglion, and
examination of the therapeutic potential of proliferating sensory neurons
can begin.
Biographical Information
Krzysztof Czaja,
Research Assistant Professor in VCAPP, received his D.V.M. in 1993 from the
Veterinary Medicine College, Academy of Agriculture and Technology, Olsztyn,
Poland. He received his Ph.D. in Neuroanatomy from the University of Warmia
and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland in 1997. From 1997-2007 he did postdoctoral work
at the University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland; the Institute for
Plastination, Heidelberg, Germany and United States Department of
Agriculture, Animal Physiology Research Unit, Athens, GA, USA. In 2007, he
was appointed to the faculty at the Washington State University, Pullman,
WA, USA. Dr. Czaja has been invited to give numerous presentations and
symposia. He joined the Department of VCAPP and the Neuroscience Graduate
Faculty in July of 2007.
Selected Publications
Czaja K (2002) Immunohistochemical characterization of
efferent neurons innervating the oviduct in the pig located in the
sympathetic chain ganglia. Vet Med Czech 47:85-91
Czaja K, Kraeling R, Klimczuk M, Franke-Radowiecka A,
Sienkiewicz W, Lakomy M (2002) Distribution of ganglionic
sympathetic neurons supplying the subcutaneous, perirenal and
mesentery fat tissue depots in the pig. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars )
62:227-234
Czaja K, Lakomy M, Kaleczyc J, Barb CR, Rampacek GB, Kraeling
RR (2002) Leptin receptors, NPY, and tyrosine hydroxylase in
autonomic neurons supplying fat depots in a pig. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun 293:1138-1144
Czaja K, Lakomy M, Sienkiewicz W, Kaleczyc J, Pidsudko Z,
Barb CR, Rampacek GB, Kraeling RR (2002) Distribution of neurons
containing leptin receptors in the hypothalamus of the pig. Biochem
Biophys Res Commun 298:333-337
Wasowicz K, Podlasz P, Czaja K, Lakomy M (2002)
Uterus-innervating neurones of paracervical ganglion in the pig:
immunohistochemical characteristics. Folia Morphol (Warsz ) 61:15-20
Czaja K, Kraeling RR, Barb CR (2003) Are hypothalamic neurons
transsynaptically connected to porcine adipose tissue? Biochem
Biophys Res Commun 311:482-485
Kaleczyc J, Sienkiewicz W, Klimczuk M, Czaja K, Lakomy M
(2003) Differences in the chemical coding of nerve fibres supplying
major populations of neurons between the caudal mesenteric ganglion
and anterior pelvic ganglion in the male pig. Folia Histochem
Cytobiol 41:201-211
Kaleczyc J, Wasowicz K, Klimczuk M, Czaja K, Lakomy M (2003)
Immunohistochemical characterisation of cholinergic neurons in the
anterior pelvic ganglion of the male pig. Folia Histochem Cytobiol
41:65-72
Pidsudko Z, Wasowicz K, Sienkiewicz W, Kaleczyc J, Czaja K,
Lakomy M (2003) The influence of inflammation on the expression of
neuropeptides in the ileum-projecting primary sensory neurones in
the pig. Folia Morphol (Warsz ) 62:235-237
Wojtarowicz A, Podlasz P, Czaja K (2003) Adrenergic and
cholinergic innervation of pulmonary tissue in the pig. Folia
Morphol (Warsz ) 62:215-218
Sienkiewicz W, Kaleczyc J, Czaja K, Lakomy M (2004)
Adrenergic, nitrergic and peptidergic innervation of the urethral
muscle in the boar. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 42:89-94
Barb CR, Hausman GJ, Czaja K (2005) Leptin: A metabolic
signal affecting central regulation of reproduction in the pig.
Domest Anim Endocrinol 29:186-192
Czaja K, Kaleczyc J, Sienkiewicz W, Lakomy M (2005) The
influence of experimental ileitis on the neuropeptide coding of
enteric neurons in the pig. Pol J Vet Sci 8:155-163
Klimczuk M, Kaleczyc J, Franke-Radowiecka A, Czaja K, Podlasz
P, Lakomy M (2005) Immunohistochemical characterisation of
cholinergic nerve fibres supplying accessory genital glands in the
pig. Veterinarni Medicina 50:119-130
Czaja K, Ritter RC, Burns GA (2006) N-methyl-D-aspartate
receptor subunit phenotypes of vagal afferent neurons in nodose
ganglia of the rat. J Comp Neurol 496:877-885
Czaja K, Ritter RC, Burns GA (2006) Vagal afferent neurons
projecting to the stomach and small intestine exhibit multiple
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit phenotypes. Brain Res
1119(1):86-93
Czaja K (2006) Transsynaptic connections between the
hypothalamus and adipose tissue: relationship to reproduction.
Reprod Suppl 62:45-53
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