Interactions of Octopamine Neurons with the Swim Neural Networks

简单摘要 主要研究者：Mesce，Karen提案编号： IBN-9813995 所有动物的大脑和神经系统，包括我们自己的，都可以被各种类型的神经活性物质大大改变。这是一个熟悉的概念，如果一个人想到“街头”毒品对大脑的影响，或者一个人对肾上腺素震动的反应方式。 肾上腺素和血清素都被称为生物胺。 但是，大脑中的化学物质如何调节特定情绪或行为的产生呢？是什么导致特定的神经细胞释放它们的化学物质来产生适当的行为，这些化学物质的神经靶点是什么？在单个神经细胞的水平上，这些问题的答案还远远没有完成。这项建议的目的是更好地了解生物胺如何调节神经系统功能并最终产生行为。选择一个简单的无脊椎动物模型神经系统进行研究，因为单个神经细胞（神经元）很容易研究，特别是含有血清素或肾上腺素样化合物章鱼胺的神经细胞。 含胺神经元的电活动及其与靶神经细胞的连接可以比目前使用更复杂的脊椎动物系统更详细地进行。 这项研究的一个重要组成部分是基于Mesce博士实验室最近的一项发现，其中发现两种生物胺的组合可以导致任何一种物质单独都不能诱导的行为。由于生物胺的作用在包括人类在内的物种中是相当保守的，因此这些研究将有助于理解单个和多个神经化学物质如何协调各种神经递质的释放。 种 各种行为， 激活 或运动失活，动机状态改变，以及可能的人类行为障碍。

LAY ABSTRACT Principal Investigator: Mesce, Karen Proposal Number: IBN-9813995 The brain and nervous systems of all animals, including our own, can be greatly altered by various types of neuroactive substances. This is a familiar concept if one thinks of the effects of 'street' drugs on the brain, or the way one feels in response to a jolt of adrenaline. Both adrenaline and serotonin are known as biogenic amines. But, how do brain chemicals work to regulate the production of a particular mood or behavior? What causes specific nerve cells to release their chemicals for the production of appropriate behavior, and what are the neural targets for such chemicals? At the level of individual nerve cells, answers to such questions remain far from complete. The aim of this proposal is to understand better how the biogenic amines work to regulate nervous system function and ultimately the generation of behavior. A simple invertebrate model nervous system has been chosen for study because individual nerve cells (neurons) can be readily studied, especially ones that contain either serotonin or the adrenaline-like compound called octopamine. The electrical activity of amine-containing neurons, and their connections with target nerve cells can be followed in much more detail than is currently possible using more complex vertebrate systems. One important component of this research is based on a recent finding in Dr. Mesce's lab where it was found that the combination of two biogenic amines can result in behaviors not induced by either substance alone. Because the actions of the biogenic amines are fairly conserved across species, including humans, such studies will contribute to an understanding of how single and multiple neural chemicals can orchestrate the release of various kinds of behaviors ranging from the activation or inactivation of locomotion, alteration in motivational state, and possibly, behavioral disorders in humans.