Regulation of SCN Glial Plasticity

大脑可塑性，即神经系统对经验的适应性，是一个导致长期结构和功能变化的调节过程。可塑性被认为是神经元的主要特征。初步数据表明，神经胶质细胞，细胞认为提供营养支持的神经元，经历了一个新的，潜在的基本形式的可塑性：昼夜和光刺激的形态动力学在中央生物钟，视交叉上核（SCN）。这一概念很新颖，尚未得到有效探讨。SCN胶质细胞可塑性的模式和监管机构在日常周期的知识将有助于显着的新见解胶质细胞动力学在大脑中，一个新兴的属性研究不足的领域。教育和推广部分的目标是开发和验证有效的跨学科教学模块，涉及神经科学，成像和三维分析技术。重点将是让妇女和群体参与神经科学研究。成果将包括一系列教育材料，演示文稿和出版物，供K-12教育工作者和学生以及公众使用，旨在提高对最近研究结果的兴趣和认识。这将提高科学素养。科学问题将使用共聚焦显微镜结合基于计算机的分析胶质结构的复杂性和空间组织在大鼠SCN解决。这项研究将通过两种方式促进对神经胶质可塑性昼夜调节的理解：1）提供SCN神经胶质可塑性昼夜模式的无偏，高分辨率三维评估，以及2）对改变神经胶质结构的信号产生新的见解，从而动态细胞-细胞关系。教育和外展部分的有效性评估将与伊利诺伊州STEM教育计划主任Lizanne DeStefano教授以及创新STEM教育计划的设计和评估专家合作进行。他们将采用一个强大的基于目标的评估，以验证，文件，并通过出版和演示传播这一模式。

Brain plasticity, the adaptability of the nervous system in response to experience, is a modulatory process leading to long-lasting structural and functional changes. Plasticity has been thought to characterize neurons primarily. Preliminary data suggest that glia, cells thought to provide nutritive support for neurons, undergo a new, potentially fundamental form of plasticity: diurnal and light-stimulated morphological dynamics in the central circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This concept is novel and has not been effectively explored. Knowledge of the patterns and regulators of SCN glial plasticity over the daily cycle will contribute significant new insights on glial cellular dynamics in the brain, an emergent property of an understudied area. Goals of educational and outreach components are to develop and validate effective cross-disciplinary instructional modules involving neuroscience, imaging, and three-dimensional analytic techniques. Emphasis will be on engaging women and groups underrepresented in neuroscience research. Outcomes will include a series of educational materials, presentations, and publications for use with K-12 educators and students and the general public aimed at increasing interest and awareness of recent research findings. This will enhance scientific literacy.The scientific issues will be addressed using confocal microscopy coupled with computer-based analysis of glial structural complexity and spatial organization in the rat SCN. This study will advance understanding of diurnal modulation of glial plasticity in two ways: 1) providing an unbiased, high-resolution three-dimensional assessment of diurnal patterns of SCN glial plasticity, and 2) generating new insights on signals that alter glial structure and thereby dynamic cell-cell relationships. Assessment of efficacy of the educational and outreach components will be made in partnership with Prof. Lizanne DeStefano, Director of the Illinois STEM Education Initiative and an expert in design and evaluation of innovative STEM education programs. They will employ a robust goal-based evaluation to validate, document, and disseminate this model through publication and presentation.