RUI: Behavioral Role of Descending Projections to the Gustatory Brainstem

RUI：味觉脑干下降投射的行为作用

• 批准号: 1145132
• 负责人: Michael King
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: Stetson University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-03-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1145132&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Behavioral; Role; Descending; Projections

Behavioral responses to taste stimuli include those leading to ingestion (mouth movements, tongue protrusion, etc.) and rejection (gapes, etc.). The neural circuitry required for these behaviors is contained within the brainstem. Several forebrain regions are connected to brainstem taste centers, but the functional roles of these connections have not been determined. Therefore, the specific goal of this study is to determine the behavioral roles of the descending projections from forebrain structures to gustatory centers in the brainstem. The general experimental approach will be to activate the descending projections with implanted electrodes in conscious rats and to observe changes in taste-related behaviors (particularly to salty and bitter stimuli). To understand the mechanisms of the behavioral effects, changes in the location, number and type of neurons in the gustatory brainstem, activated by forebrain stimulation, will be determined using a combination of anatomical and molecular techniques. It is expected that the results of this study will improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying taste-related behaviors and provide a foundation for future research on the role of these pathways in more complex behaviors. The broader impacts of the proposed activities include the involvement of a diverse undergraduate student population in scientific research, enhanced undergraduate student preparation for graduate work in the Biological Sciences, and published findings to disseminate the results of the experiments. Beyond those impacts, the proposed activities will increase interaction among scientists and students at Stetson University, enhance learning, teaching and training in classrooms and laboratories, and promote outreach to local middle- and high-school teachers and their students.

对味觉刺激的行为反应包括导致摄入的行为反应（口腔运动、舌头伸出等）。拒绝（gapes等）。这些行为所需的神经回路包含在脑干中。几个前脑区域连接到脑干味觉中心，但这些连接的功能作用尚未确定。因此，本研究的具体目标是确定前脑结构到脑干味觉中心的下行投射的行为作用。一般的实验方法是在清醒的大鼠中用植入的电极激活下行投射，并观察与味觉相关的行为（特别是对咸和苦刺激）的变化。为了理解行为效应的机制，将使用解剖学和分子技术的组合来确定由前脑刺激激活的味觉脑干中神经元的位置、数量和类型的变化。预计这项研究的结果将提高我们对味觉相关行为的神经机制的理解，并为未来研究这些通路在更复杂行为中的作用提供基础。拟议活动的更广泛的影响包括参与科学研究的不同本科生群体，加强本科生的生物科学研究生工作的准备，并公布调查结果，传播实验结果。除这些影响外，拟议的活动将增加斯泰森大学科学家和学生之间的互动，加强教室和实验室的学习、教学和培训，并促进与当地初中和高中教师及其学生的外联。