2012 Participants
Rebecca Webb-Mitchell
The aim was to establish a technique for differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) into dopaminergic neurons. After growing and cultivating undifferentiated mESC, we added specific growth factors to induce differentiation. To test for the successful differentiation of dopaminergic neurons we stained for general neuronal markers (Tuj1) as well as those specific for dopaminergic neurons (tyrosine hydroxylase). This technique will be used as part of wider research into the role of TERT in the protection of dopaminergic neurons from oxidative stress, which is relevant to the analysis of possible causes of Parkinson’s disease where neurons from the substantia nigra die.
Funding source: Newcastle University