Role of Retrograde Messengers in Visual Development

9602143 PI：Sur该项目的长期目标是阐明发育中的神经细胞的活性 在胚胎发育过程中，影响大脑中的连接模式，以产生一个功能系统。 据推测，参与发育的机制可能类似于那些已知的在调节成熟大脑连接的可塑性方面发挥作用的机制。 拟议的实验解决了一氧化氮的作用，一种物质最近被证明在信号从一个神经细胞转移到另一个神经细胞的过程中发挥作用，调节突触（大脑中神经细胞沟通的结构）的建立。 以前已经证明，阻止相关突触正常功能的物质也会阻止大脑视觉处理区域的正常发育。这可以通过改变细胞对钙离子的渗透性来实现。 这些实验的总体结果将为大脑中神经连接的有序模式如何发展提供更全面的解释。

9602143 PI: Sur The long term objective of this project is to elucidate the mechanisms by which the activity of developing nerve cells during embryonic development influences the patterns of connections in the brain to generate a functioning system. It is postulated that the mechanisms involved in development may be similar to those known to play a part in regulating the plasticity of connections of the mature brain. The proposed experiments address the role of nitric oxide, a substance recently shown to play a part in the transfer of signals from one nerve cell to another, in regulating the establishment of synapses (the structures through which nerve cells in the brain communicate). It has previously been demonstrated that substances that block the normal function of the relevant synapses, also prevent the normal development of the visual processing region of the brain. This may be effected through changes in the permeability of the cells to calcium ions. The overall outcome of these experimented will be to provide a fuller explanation of how orderly patterns of nerve connections develop in the brain.