Professor,
University of Idaho
E-Mail: mlaskow@wsu.edu
Phone: (509) 335-2602
My main research interest is the development of the nervous system,
specifically the understanding of cues used by developing neurons in
selecting their appropriate targets. I examine the specificity in two
contexts: normal embryonic development in the mammalian neuromuscular
junction, and reinnervation of muscle after acute nerve injury.
The techniques used
combine morphology, electrophysiology, tissue culture and molecular biology.
The trajectories of growing neurons are assessed using fluorescent and tissue
culture techniques in both the embryonic and neonatal nervous system. In
addition, a wide variety of histological techniques is used to define patterns
of innervation and synpatic development. Such studies can be used to estimate
the physiological development of synaptic connections in the nervous system.
The goal of these studies is to provide insight into mechanisms of nerve
regeneration and its potential for repair. Moreover, an understanding of
guidance mechanisms in embryonic development may provide better understanding
of birth defects involving the nervous system.
Biographical Information
Michael B. Laskowski, Professor, received a B.S. in biology from
Loyola University in Chicago in 1966 and a Ph.D. in Physiology from the
University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1970. He did postdoctoral
research in neurophysiology at Northwestern and Vanderbilt Universities
and served on the faculties at both Vanderbilt and St. Louis University
schools of medicine. In 1988, he joined the faculty at both Washington
State University and the University of Idaho.
Selected Publications
Wang, H., Chadaram, S.R., Norton, A.S., Lewis, R., Boyum, J., Trumble,
W., Sanes, J.R., & Laskowski, M.B. (1999). Positionally selective growth
of embryonic spinal cord neurites on muscle membranes. J Neurosci 15:
4984-4993.
Feng, G., Laskowski, M.B., Feldheim, D.A., Wang, H., Lewis, R.,
Frisen, J., Flanagan, J. & Sanes, J.R. (2000). Roles for ephrins in
positionally selective synaptogenesis between motor neurons and muscle
fibers. Neuron 25: 295-306.
Wang, H., Chadaram, S.R., Norton, A.S. & Laskowski, M.B. (2001).
Development of inhibition by ephrin-A5 on outgrowth of embryonic spinal
motor neurites. J Neurobiology 47: 233-243.
Chadaram,S.R. and M.B. Laskowski (2003) Denervation and age modify
neuromuscular positional selectivity. J Neurobiology 56:347-359.
Lampa,S.J., Potluri,S., Norton,A.S. and Laskowski, M.B. (2004). A
morphological technique for exploring neuromuscular topography expressed
in the mouse gluteus maximus muscle. J Neursci Meth 138: 51-56
Lampa, S., Potluri,S.,Norton, A.S., Fusco, W.F. and Laskowski, M.B.
(2004) Ephrin A5 overexpression degrades topographic specificity in the
mouse gluteus maximus muscle. Dev Brain Res 153: 271-274.
Potluri, S.,Lampa, S.J., Norton, A.S. and Laskowski, M.B. (2006).
Morphometric analysis of neuromuscular topography in the serratus
anterior muscle. Muscle and Nerve 33: 398-408.
