Ontogenetic Examinations of Frequency-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus

本研究旨在验证这样一种假设，即在出生后早期发育过程中，海马结构中与学习和记忆密切相关的特定神经元回路（穿孔路径/齿状颗粒突触）的突触可塑性发生了重大变化。最近，研究表明海马回路对传入输入的反应取决于输入的频率和模式。具体来说，对海马传入输入的某些模式的反应可能导致海马突触反应的增强（长期增强）或减弱（长期抑制）。本研究的主要目标是应用最近开发的手术和记录技术来量化断奶前自由活动的雄性和雌性大鼠穿孔路径/齿状颗粒细胞突触频率依赖性反应的发展。在这项研究中，诱发场电位分析将用于评估突触激活和细胞放电的变化。这项工作将试图量化频率依赖性突触功能在早期发育期间的变化。这项研究可以提供已知参与认知过程的神经网络功能发展的信息，包括空间学习、记忆和绘图。＊＊＊

9618935 Bronzino This research is designed to test the hypothesis that there are significant changes, during early postnatal development, in synaptic plasticity in a specific neuronal circuit, the perforant path/dentate granule synapse, in the hippocampal formation, a structure intimately involved in learning and memory. Recently, it has been shown that hippocampal circuit responses to afferent input vary depending upon the frequency and pattern of the input. Specifically, the response to certain patterns of hippocampal afferent inputs may result in either enhancement (long-term potentiation), or a diminishment (long-term depression) of the hippocampal synaptic response. The major goal of this research is to apply recently developed surgical and recording techniques to quantify the development of frequency-dependent responses of the perforant path/dentate granule cell synapse in preweaning, freely moving male and female rats. In this research, evoked field potential analyses will be used to evaluate changes in both synaptic activation and cellular discharge. This work will attempt to quantify changes in frequency-dependent synaptic function during an early period of development. This research could provide information on the functional development of a neural network known to be involved in cognitive processes including spatial learning, memory and mapping. ***