Neurochemical Organization of Feeding Behavior

在某些包含大型可识别神经细胞的无脊椎动物模型系统中，已知单个神经细胞通过释放特定的神经化学递质来控制行为。在其中一个模型系统中，水蚤的大脑中，神经递质5-羟色胺直接激活摄取器官。这些调节摄食行为的效应神经元反过来又受两类感觉细胞的活动控制。感觉细胞探测到潜在的猎物生物体，刺激神经元放电并释放5-羟色胺。感觉细胞对一顿饭引起的身体膨胀做出反应，既抑制了进食神经元的放电，又终止了进食。在这个奖项中，Charles Lent博士将研究摄食行为和神经元放电模式之间的关系；他的研究还将使用特定的神经细胞染色和敏感的化学分析来描述感觉细胞的解剖和传递体，这些细胞控制着负责摄食的大型神经细胞的活动和5-羟色胺水平。由于饥饿和饱足的行为状态是可分离的，这些研究将能够证明神经细胞之间的通信如何调节表达这两种行为状态中的一种或另一种的递质数量。这项研究将有助于了解摄食行为的神经化学组织和控制的基础知识。

In certain invertebrate model systems which contain large, recognizable nerve cells, the individual nerve cells are known to control behavior by the release of specific neurochemical transmitters. In one of these model systems, the brain of the leech, the neurotransmitter serotonin directly activates the organs of ingestion. These effector neurons which regulate feeding behavior are in turn controlled by the activity of two classes of sensory cells. Sensory cells that detect potential prey organisms excite the neurons to fire and release serotonin. Sensory cells that respond to distension of the body resulting from a meal both inhibit the feeding neurons from firing and terminate feeding. In this award Dr. Charles Lent will investigate the relationship betwen feeding behavior and neuronal firing patterns; his studies will also use specific nerve cell staining and sensitive chemical assays to describe the anatomy and transmitters of sensory cells that control the activity and serotonin levels in the large nerve cells that are responsible for feeding. Because the behavioral states of hunger and satiation are separable, these studies will be able to demonstrate the way in which communication between nerve cells regulates the amount of transmitter that expresses either one or the other of these two behavioral states. This research will contribute fundamental knowledge about the neurochemical organization and control of feeding behavior.