Role of Activity in Refinement of Synaptic Connections

这个项目的目标是了解发育中的神经 细胞与肌肉连接，并确定这些细胞如何与肌肉连接， 连接改变它们的属性作为活动的函数。 有证据表明，发展中的神经连接， 通过活动介导的机制。 的影响 神经末梢大小和投射模式的变化 将通过使用突变来检查， 神经元和肌肉产生正常的电活动。 这些 还将通过使用毒素来研究变化， 专门干扰神经和肌肉电活动。 观察神经肌肉连接的发育情况， 他们对实验操作的反应， 电影将由维持在半- 完整的文化。 这些实验将阐明几个 正常神经系统发育的基本特征。

The goal of this project is to understand how developing nerve cells make connections with muscles, and to determine how those connections alter their properties as a function of activity. There is evidence that developing nerve connections are refined during development by activity mediated mechanisms. The influence of activity on changes in nerve ending size and projection patterns will be examined by use of mutations that disrupt the ability of neurons and muscles to generate normal electrical activity. These changes will also be investigated by the use of toxins that specifically interfere with nerve and muscle electrical activity. To observe the development of the nerve muscle connections, and their responses to experimental manipulations, time-lapse video movies will be made of the living nerve endings maintained in semi- intact cultures. These experiments will elucidate several fundamental features of normal nervous system development.