November 2016

November 2016: Fifty shades of Grey matter

Submitted by: Dr Gerard O'Keeffe

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the degeneration of nerve cell projections (axons) and later the death of nerve cells (neurons) from the central and peripheral nervous system. We are studying the molecular mechanisms that promote neuronal survival and growth to identify new drugs and drug targets for Parkinsons. Shown here is one single sympathetic neuron which grow and branch extensively in culture which we use to study affected axons. The title of this image represents the diversity in symptoms in Parkinson’s and the many types of neurons affected by the disorder.