Teacher(s)
Language
French
Prerequisites
none
Main themes
The aim of these lectures is to address the developmental processes that contribute to the formation of the central and of the peripheral nervous system, and the molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms that regulate these processes. The development will be studied from the initial formation of the neural tissue (neurulation) to the wiring of interconnected functional circuits. Mechanistic aspects will focus on the genetic regulators and signalling pathways involved in neural induction, patterning of the nervous system (morphogens), neuronal and glial differentiation, neuronal migration, axonal growth and guidance and synaptogenesis, and on activity-dependent maturation of neural circuitry. The alterations of the development of the nervous system, either of endogenous or exogenous origin, will be analyzed. Finally, the experimental approaches specifically dedicated to the study of neural development will be presented.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 |
At the end of the course, the student will be able : - to describe the processes that contribute to the formation of the structures of the central and peripheral nervous system, and to explain the developmental relationships between these structures - to understand and compare the regulatory mechanisms that are activated during development in different regions of the nervous system (organizing centres, control of neurogenesis, of neuronal differentiation and migration, of axonal growth, of synaptogenesis and of circuit formation) - to explain the mechanisms and the consequences of endogenous or exogenous alterations of these processes - to propose adequate experimental strategies to study specific aspects of neural development - to make anatomical and functional links between developing structures and structures of the adult nervous system The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled 'Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit'. |
Content
Aims and topics
This course examines the developmental processes that build the central and peripheral nervous systems and the molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms that control them, from neural induction to the maturation of functional circuits. Rather than treating development as a closed chapter, the course uses developmental biology as a framework for understanding disease across the lifespan. A short common core provides the shared conceptual and molecular vocabulary needed to follow the thematic modules. The thematic modules cover (1) the development of the temporal lobe and hippocampal formation, their associated developmental pathologies, and their selective vulnerability to neurodegeneration; and (2) the development, maturation, and pathologies of the autonomic nervous system.Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:- Retrace the developmental processes that build the major structures of the central and peripheral nervous systems and describe the developmental relationships between these structures.
- Identify the common principles at work during the development of different regions of the CNS and PNS (organising centres, control of neurogenesis, differentiation, neuronal migration and axon guidance, synaptogenesis and circuit formation), their control mechanisms, and how these are implemented differently across regions.
- Describe the molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms driving nervous system development, their mode of action, and the consequences of their dysfunction.
- Explain how developmental programmes established in the neural crest, vagal system and brainstem nuclei create structures and functional pathways, evaluate their physiological maturation across the lifespan, and explain how they later serve as entry points or vulnerability sites for disease.
- Distinguish physiological, developmentally programmed cellular senescence from pathological senescence occurring in the ageing or diseased brain, and discuss its functional consequences for neural stem cell niches and glial populations.
- Analyse how neurodegenerative disease can involve the pathological reactivation of developmental programmes (cell-cycle re-entry, dedifferentiation) in selectively vulnerable neuronal populations and relate this to a Developmental Origins of Health and Disease perspective.
- Propose experimental approaches suited to studying specific aspects of nervous system development, senescence, or neurodegeneration.
- Establish anatomical and functional links between structures set up during development and structures of the adult and ageing/diseased nervous system, integrating perspectives across the three thematic modules.
Content
Common core on neurodevelopment and experimental approaches (≈ 6h+4h)- Neural induction and neurulation
- Regionalisation of the nervous system
- Neural stem cells, neurogenesis and neuronal migration
- Differentiation of major neural cell types (neurones, astrocytes, microglial cells)
- Tools to track the formation of neuronal networks
- Lineage tracing in brain development: a technique used to map how single original cells build up the complex architecture of the brain
- Origin and maturation of the CNS: focus on the temporal lobe/hippocampal formation to understand the selectively vulnerable of these regions to neurodegeneration
- Developmental pathologies of the central nervous system
- Normal and pathological aging of the temporal lobe/hippocampal formation
- Exploring the links between development and neurodegeneration
- Alzheimer’s disease as the case study
- The reactivation-of-developmental-programs: cellular senescence, cell-cycle re-entry and dedifferentiation
- Dual origins (neural tube vs. neural crest), epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, transcriptional programming, and lineage specification signals
- Vagal neural crest cells and enteric nervous system formation
- Formation of autonomic ganglia
- Development of brainstem autonomic nuclei
- Functional ontogeny from fetal life to adolescence
- Developmental and acquired pathologies of the autonomic nervous system including congenital dysautonomias, neurocristopathies and retrogradely transmitted neurodegenerative pathologies
Teaching methods
The course combines lectures with the critical reading and in-class discussion of recent research articles and reference book chapters, selected by each lecturer within their thematic module.
Evaluation methods
Written examination in English, which could include:
- Short-answer questions, that could include multiple-choice questions
- Each block (core, thematic modules) will be covered in the examination
- One compulsory integrative question requiring the student to connect at least two of the three thematic axes is possible
Online resources
Available on Moodle: PDF slides, selected research articles and reference book chapters, relevant websites.
Teaching materials
- Diapositives fournies par les enseignant·e·s.
Faculty or entity
