PHYSIOLOGY AND PLASTICITY OF VISUAL CORTICAL SYNAPSES

这项建议的长远目标是研究 大鼠视皮层兴奋性突触的生理学和可塑性。 建议在此研究谷氨酸受体的异质性和 使用新信息和技术调节微型EPSCs的过程 是根据当前拨款进行的研究得出的结论。具体地说， 这项建议的目的是： L。N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体发育调控的特征。 大鼠视皮层II-IV层的通道。 2.微型EPSC在大鼠视皮层II-IV层的调节 通过钙、蛋白质磷酸化和激活代谢 感受器。 3.锥体和非锥体谷氨酸受体的比较 大鼠视皮质II-IV层的神经元。 了解兴奋性突触如何在视觉皮质中运作以及如何 它们的调节对于理解皮质功能至关重要。然而， 皮质神经元和突触及其复合体的多样性 解剖连接是一个重大挑战。使用mEPSC可避免 与多突触回路相关的问题，并可以区分 突触前和突触后的机制之间。这里提出的实验 会检查操控的效果，模仿内生信号， 关于mEPSC的性质。 使用膜片钳记录在当前授予下获得的结果 表明NMDA受体经历了发育变化，并且 在锥体神经元表达的AMPA/海人藻酸受体不同于 在带刺的中间神经元中表达的那些。它被建议用来描述 谷氨酸受体特性(例如，单通道电导；镁离子 敏感性、动力学)在发育过程中进行形态鉴定 神经元。

The long-term objectives of the present proposal is to study the physiology and plasticity of excitatory synapses in the rat visual cortex. It is proposed here to study glutamate receptor heterogeneity and processes regulating miniature EPSCs using new information and techniques resulting from research done under the current grant. Specifically, the aims of this proposal are: l. Characterization of the developmental regulation of NMDA receptor- channels in layers II-IV of rat visual cortex. 2. Regulation of miniature EPSC in layers II-IV of the rat visual cortex by calcium, protein phosphorylation and activation of metabotropic receptors. 3. Comparison among glutamate receptors in pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons in layers II-IV of the rat visual cortex. Understanding how excitatory synapses operate in the visual cortex and how they are regulated is critical for understanding cortical function. Yet, the diversity of cortical neurons and synapses and their complex anatomical connections represents a major challenge. Using mEPSCs avoids problems associated with polysynaptic circuits and could distinguish between pre and post synaptic mechanisms. The experiments proposed here would examine the effects of manipulations, mimicking endogenous signals, on the properties of mEPSCs. Results obtained, under the current grant, using patch-clamp recording showed that NMDA receptors undergo developmental changes and that AMPA/Kainate receptors expressed in pyramidal neurons are different than those expressed in aspiny interneurons. It is proposed to characterize glutamate receptor properties (e.g., single-channel conductance; Mg2+ sensitivity, kinetics) during development in morphologically identified neurons.