Neurons transmit electrochemical impulses through specialized nerve endings called synapses.
However, with rare exceptions, neurons in the adult brain are post-mitotic and cannot be replaced if killed. Thus, neuronal apoptosis in the mature nervous system can lead to severe neurological dysfunction. Research has determined that members of the bcl-2 and caspase gene families regulate apoptosis in many cell types, including neurons. To determine which specific family members regulate neuronal apoptosis, our laboratory studies the effects of targeted gene disruptions on neuron survival both in vivo and in vitro. In a typical experiment, neuronal cell cultures, derived from the embryonic mouse brain, are used to determine if a specific targeted gene disruption causes increased or decreased susceptibility to neuronal apoptosis.