Role of Retrograde Messengers in Visual Development

9602143 PI：SuR该项目的长期目标是阐明胚胎发育期间发育中的神经细胞的活动通过影响大脑中的连接模式来产生功能系统的机制。据推测，参与发育的机制可能类似于那些已知在调节成熟大脑连接的可塑性方面发挥作用的机制。拟议中的实验针对的是一氧化氮的作用，这是一种最近被证明在信号从一个神经细胞传递到另一个神经细胞的过程中发挥作用的物质，在调节突触(大脑中神经细胞通过其进行交流的结构)的建立方面发挥了作用。此前已经证明，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。这可能是通过改变细胞对钙离子的渗透性来实现的。这些实验的总体结果将更全面地解释大脑中神经连接的有序模式是如何发展的。

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.