Dr Cècile Lebrand

Biography

Dr Cècile Lebrand Departement des Neurosciences Fondamentales – The Brain Mind Institute Lausanne

Research Interest

To test whether neurons of the corpus callosum attract or repel callosal axons and whether they exert short or long range distance actions, we are currently using in vivo model of transgenic mice, co-culture explants as well as our in vitro model of corpus callosum organotypic slices in which the organization of the corpus callosum and the cortical projections is preserved. We are testing if neurons of the corpus callosum are required for the normal growth of cortical axons with loss-of-function experiments. We are also testing whether corpus callosum neurons facilitate the growth of callosal axons in an otherwise non permissive environment. Finally, in order to establish definitively the involvement of neurons in the guidance of callosal axons, we are testing whether transplantation of wild-type corpus callosum neurons can restore callosal pathfinding using neurons-free mutant slices. To gain insight into how growth cones of callosal axons respond to neurons and glia of the corpus callosum along their pathway, we are using confocal time-lapse video microscopy to monitor the dynamic behaviors of individual callosal growth cones extending into organotypic corpus callosum slices. Our study will allow us to determine whether the complex callosal growth cone behaviors correspond to interaction with neuronal and/or glial cellular targets.