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Understanding the maturation of the enteric nervous system (ENS) is important as paediatric motility disturbances place a large burden on the affected children and their families. These disorders also place a large burden on the resources of healthcare providers. The ENS begins to mature during embryonic development when neural precursors migrate from the neural crest into the bowel wall. When the neural precursors reach the gastrointestinal GI tract, trophic factors and extracellular matrix proteins stimulate neuronal differentiation and circuit formation. However, the ENS continues to mature in the postnatal period developing pathways and connections that govern its prime function of motility control. Limited information is known about how the different neurotransmitter systems develop during this postnatal period and how this affects signalling at the neuromuscular junction.
This project will test the hypothesis that neurotransmission pathways that innervate the neuromuscular junction develop at various timelines during ENS maturation, causing postnatal changes in motility. The project will use a range of electrochemical, electrophysiological and functional bioassays to study the functional and activity of the ENS. Electrochemical sensors will be used to understand how levels of the key neurochemical (nitric oxide, acetylcholine, serotonin and adenosine tri-phosphate) alter during ENS maturation. Functional bioassays and electrophysiology will be utilised to study the receptor pharmacology and efficacy of the neuromuscular junction.
You will have the opportunity to develop practical skills in sensor fabrication and assessment, biological monitoring, functional bioassays and electrophysiology. The supervisory team for this project will be: Dr Bhavik Patel and Dr Mark Yeoman. Please contact Dr. Bhavik Patel (B.A.Patel@brighton.ac.uk) to discuss project specific details. This studentship is available from October 2012.
Funding Notes:
3-year funding includes tuition fees plus stipend of £14,300p.a.
Applicants should have a first or 2(i) honours degree in a relevant subject.
Applications can be made online through our Course Finder. Further details are available from Alice Parkes on: 01273 641104 or A.Parkes@brighton.ac.uk or by writing to the Research Student Administrator (P&BS), Doctoral College, Mithras House, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4AT.
All applications should include a copy of your passport, copies of your degree certificates and transcripts to date, of your IELTS/ equivalent English language qualification (where applicable) and 2 references. Please contact the Research Student Administrator for further details.
References:
1. B. A. Patel, Electroanalytical approaches to study signaling mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract, Neurogastroenetrol. Motil., 2011, 23(7), 595 – 605.
2. B. A. Patel, M. Rogers, T. Wieder, D. O’Hare and M. Boutelle, ATP microelectrode for stable long-term in vitro monitoring from gastrointestinal tract, Biosensors Bioelectronics, 2011, 26, 2890 - 2896.
3. B.A. Patel, Amperometric detection of co-released serotonin and melatonin from the mucosa in the ileum, Analyst., 2008, 133, 516 – 524.
4. X. Bain, B.A. Patel, X. Dai, J.J. Galligan and G.M. Swain, High mucosal serotonin availability in neonatal guinea pig ileum is associated with low serotonin transporter expression, Gastroenterology, 2007, 132(7), 2438 – 2447.