My current research addresses the influence of heterotypic courtesy: Jake Cain; nestin-lectin-neuralepitheliumcell-cell interactions during central nervous system development. My work is designed to test the hypothesis that neurovascular interactions stabilize the vasculature during development and under pathologic conditions. I am also investigating the role of a traditionally vascular factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the regulation of neurogenesis. I am currently conducting these studies using in vitro cell culture approaches and an in vivo system using transgenic mice. An image of nestin (red) and lectin (green) labelled developing cortical neuroepithelium is shown to the right (photo courtesy of Jake Cain).
