title: The laser lesion of the mouse visual cortex as a model to study neural extracellular matrix remodeling during degeneration, regeneration and plasticity of the CNS.
abstract: CNS lesions generally result in impaired function because regeneration of the adult CNS of mammals is poor. A variety of lesion models has been described that serve to further the understanding of the pathophysiology of the damaged tissue. A central cause of aborted regeneration is the glial scar that expresses a plethora of extracellular matrix molecules. Some of these are considered inhibitors of axon growth and regeneration. The laser lesion of the cortex offers the advantage that a circumscribed lesion of defined energy can be delivered to the cortex non-invasively through the intact dura mater and a thinly drilled wet translucent remnant of the skull. Previously, we have shown that distinct ECM is up-regulated in the penumbra of laser lesions in the rat visual cortex. We propose to transfer this model to the mouse, in view of the availability of a large number of genetical models in this small rodent. Here, we discuss this model and the lesion-related ECM that forms the focus of our analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Morphology & Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roll
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mittmann
authors.forename: Ulf T
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Eysel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faissner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*