MRI: Procurement of a Shared Confocal Microscope Facility at the Institute of Neurobiology

马克·W博士获得了一笔赠款。米勒在波多黎各大学医学院建立一个激光扫描共聚焦显微镜（LSCM）设施在神经生物学研究所。 该设施将由研究所十个实验室的研究人员和学生共享。 这些实验室利用各种模型系统，从蟑螂的突触发育和规范到人类的视网膜老化，以解决现代神经科学面临的一些最具挑战性的问题。 虽然范围不同，但这些研究计划因某些方法论考虑和限制而统一。 特别是，它们都需要在高度复杂的组织中定位特定的蛋白质、信使RNA或生理事件。 神经元复杂的三维结构，其显著的表型异质性，以及其复杂的分选和运输能力，为需要精确定位荧光信号或标记物的研究带来了巨大的障碍。 然而，在许多情况下，这些因素所施加的限制已经克服了共聚焦显微镜，仪器，使研究人员能够检测和定位荧光信号的分辨率，大大超过了传统显微镜的能力的介绍。 在神经生物学研究所进行的研究致力于增加我们对神经系统结构和功能的理解。 具体项目包括：（1）神经肽Y和GABA在衰老的地松鼠昼夜节律系统中的表达（N。卢戈），（2）视神经损伤后神经节细胞的树突重塑（R.布兰科），人类脊髓神经元的存活和再生（D。Kuffler），（4）血管平滑肌中亚细胞钙信号的超快速成像（L.桑塔纳），（5）在神经元解剖和突触连接的规范中的雕刻旁系同源物的作用（J.M. Blagburn），（6）Cotransmitters and the Regulation of Complex Behavior（M. W.米勒），（7）视网膜老化的人类人口在波多黎各（博士E。代谢型谷氨酸受体在产生节律的神经元网络中的功能作用（W. Krenz）。 除了直接加强这些研究项目外，拟议的设施将对神经生物学研究所的教育目标和能力产生广泛的影响。 隶属于波多黎各大学医学院和普审里奥皮德拉斯校区生物系的许多研究生在该研究所进行研究。 此外，许多高级本科生通过参加独立调查课程接受研究培训，他们可能会获得学分和资金。 最后，该研究所举办热带神经行为学暑期课程，将来自全国各地的本科生带到波多黎各进行为期5周的密集研究。 共享激光扫描共聚焦显微镜设施的创建将明显丰富这些教育计划，并提高神经生物学研究所的培训目标。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Mark W. Miller at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus to establish a Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) facility at the Institute of Neurobiology. This facility will be shared by the investigators and students of the ten laboratories that comprise the Institute. These laboratories utilize a variety of model systems, ranging from synapse development and specification in the cockroach to retinal aging in the human, to address some of the most challenging issues facing modern Neuroscience. While diverse in scope, these research programs are unified by certain methodological considerations and limitations. In particular, they share a need to localize specific proteins, messenger RNAs, or physiological events, within highly complex tissues. The elaborate three-dimensional structures of neurons, their remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity, and their intricate sorting and trafficking capabilities present formidable obstacles to studies requiring the precise localization of fluorescent signals or markers. In many cases, however, the limitations previously imposed by these factors have been overcome by the introduction of the confocal microscope, an instrument that enables investigators to detect and localize fluorescent signals with a resolution that greatly exceeds the capabilities of traditional microscopy. The research conducted at the Institute of Neurobiology is dedicated increasing our understanding of the structure and function of nervous systems. Specific programs include: (1) Neuropeptide Y and GABA Expression in the Aging Ground Squirrel Circadian System (Dr. N. Lugo), (2) Dendritic Remodeling of Ganglion Cells after Optic Nerve Injury (Dr. R. Blanco), Survival and Regeneration of Human Spinal Cord Neurons (Dr. D. Kuffler), (4) Ultra-fast Imaging of Subcellular Calcium Signals in Vascular Smooth Muscle (Dr. L. Santana), (5) Role of Engrailed Paralogues in Specification of Neuronal Anatomy and Synaptic Connections (Dr. J.M. Blagburn), (6) Cotransmitters and the Regulation of Complex Behavior (Dr. M. W. Miller), (7) Retinal Aging in Human Populations in Puerto Rico (Dr. E. Kicliter), and (8) Functional Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in a Rhythm-generating Neuronal Network (Dr. W. Krenz). In addition to the direct enhancement of these research projects, the proposed facility will have a broad impact on the educational goals and capabilities of the Institute of Neurobiology. Numerous graduate students affiliated with the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and the Department of Biology at the UPR Rio Piedras campus conduct their research at the Institute. Moreover, many advanced undergraduate students receive research training by participating in an Independent Investigation course, for which they may receive both credit and funding. Finally, the Institute hosts a summer program in Tropical Neuroethology that brings undergraduate students from around the country to Puerto Rico for an intensive 5-week research experience. The creation of a shared Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope facility will clearly enrich these educational programs and enhance the training objectives of the Institute of Neurobiology.