C-bouton function in ALS

To study ALS in the lab, many researchers create mice with the disease. In recent experiments, they have discovered that the mice can walk almost normally despite significant loss of motor neuron function. One theory about why this is possible is that C-boutons, specialized synapses that provide chemical inputs to motor neurons, may increase in size and number to compensate for the loss of motor neuron function. In this project, Dr. Akay will examine how C-boutons change the chemical input to motor neuron cells to allow ALS mice with severe motor neuron loss to move quite well and whether that effect slows or accelerates ALS progression. He will also test drugs known to change C-bouton signalling to see if motor function can be preserved in ALS mice. If targeting C-bouton function can successfully slow disease progression in mice, it may prove to be a target worth pursuing in human studies in the future to find new ways to improve mobility and possibly slow disease progression.