We’re interested in how nerve cells adopt their complex shapes. During development neurons must elaborate intricate axonal and dendritic processes to make contact with their environment or with other nerve cells. Proper development of these contacts is crucial for animals to sense their environment and respond appropriately.

As a model for the development of complex cell shapes in the nervous system, we are studying trigeminal neurons in zebrafish. Trigeminal neurons sense painful and benign mechanical and thermal stimuli in the skin. They are ideal for the study of cell shape because they possess complex peripheral axons that arborize extensively under the skin and can easily be accessed and imaged. We employ a combination of embryological, genetic, molecular, imaging and behavioral approaches to address these questions.