Neural Mechanisms of Nutritional Homeostasis

IBN-9808400营养稳态的神经机制 动机过程，特别是饥饿，是行为决策的驱动力;然而，目前还不知道神经网络介导的喂养或其他动机行为是如何组织的生理介质的饥饿。其中一种重要的神经化学物质是生物胺5-羟色胺（5-HT），它调节脊椎动物和无脊椎动物的情感和唤醒。在一个简单易行的模型系统中，5-HT刺激进食运动网络中的进食准备，以增强神经元兴奋性的特定方面。有证据表明，5-HT刺激一氧化氮（NO）的产生，这是许多动物神经活动的关键调节剂。该提案概述了阐明5-HT在调节产生NO的酶，从而调节饥饿/饱足状态中的作用和作用机制的计划。这些研究结合了联合收割机的行为和电气措施与5-HT和NO相关的化学化合物在单细胞中的分析。这些研究接近所有能动动物中调节营养稳态的反馈回路的基本组织，并可导致对饥饿/饱足机制的更全面理解。它们直接关系到厌食症和肥胖症的体重控制的健康问题。这些因素的知识可能是重要的自主机器人的发展，能够在嘈杂的环境中作出最小概率错误的决定，并为人工智能的最佳功能的进化，基于动机的过程可以提供关键的目标相关的活动，就像他们在真实的智能系统。

LAY ABSTRACT IBN-9808400 Neural Mechanisms of Nutritional Homeostasis Motivational processes, in particular hunger, are driving influences in behavioral decision-making; however, it is not known how neural networks mediating feeding or other motivated behaviors are organized by the physiological mediators of hunger. One critically involved neurochemical is the biogenic amine serotonin (5-HT), which modulates affect and arousal in vertebrates and invertebrates alike. In a simple and accessible model system, 5-HT stimulates readiness to feed acting in the feeding motor network to enhance specific aspects of neuron excitability. Evidence suggests that 5-HT stimulates production of nitric oxide (NO), a critical modulator of neural activity in many animals. This proposal outlines plans to elucidate the role and mechanisms of action of 5-HT in regulating the enzyme that makes NO, and thereby hunger/satiation state. These studies combine behavioral and electrical measures with analysis of 5-HT and NO-related chemical compounds in single cells. These studies approach the basic organization of the feedback loops regulating nutritional homeostasis in all motile animals and can lead to a fuller understanding of mechanisms of hunger/satiation. They relate directly to health issues of weight-control in anorexia and obesity. Knowledge of these factors is likely to be significant to the development of autonomous robots capable of making least- probable-error decisions in a noisy environment, and to the evolution of artificial intelligence for whose optimal function motivation-based processes can provide the critical regulation of goal related activity, just as they do in real intelligence systems.