Abstract
Regeneration of injured brain neurons remains to be a challenging medical issue. The inability of injured neurons to regenerate is mainly attributed to an inhibitory environment and poor intrinsic growth capacity. Better understanding of the neuronal regeneration mechanism would help the development of clinical treatment for brain injury. In this thesis, I have found that the expression level of WNT3A was increased during regeneration of injured embryonic day 18 cortical neurons. Treating injured cortical neurons with WNT3A effectively promotes neuronal regeneration. Three candidate target genes of WNT3A signaling, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Krüppel-like factor 7 and growth associated protein 43, were identified. In addition, 3D brain slice culture was used to mimic the in vivo environment of brain and evaluate the role of WNT3A in neuronal regeneration.