PERIPHERAL NERVE REGENERATION AND DORSAL HORN SOMATOTOPY

描述：（摘自申请人摘要）长期 本项目的目标是进一步研究这些具体变化 确定负责观察到的可塑性的基本机制， 切断的神经再生后的背角。组合 电生理学和解剖学方法与单一 纤维记录和刺激技术将用于确定： 1)如果发芽纤维的数量与 背角细胞和/或如果它们特有的任何特性可以 2）哪些特定的脊柱机制参与 重建简洁的背角细胞感受野; 3）如果 形成新的功能连接有助于巩固 背角细胞感受野; 4）如果更详细的分析， 在完整的制备物中整合躯体感觉输入可以增强 我们对这些塑料事件的了解。所获得的信息应 能够确定参与的具体机制， 观察可塑性。一旦确定了这些机制， 进一步研究，以确定某些操作是否可能 减少不适当的侧枝发芽或增强 背角细胞构成简洁的感受野。

DESCRIPTION: (Taken from the applicant's abstract) The long term objective of this project is to further examine these specific changes to identify basic mechanisms responsible for the plasticity observed in the dorsal horn after regeneration of severed nerves. Combined electrophysiological and anatomical methodology coupled with single fiber recording and stimulation techniques will be used to determine: 1) if the population of sprouting fibers make aberrant connections with dorsal horn cells and/or if any properties unique to them can be identified; 2) what specific spinal mechanisms are involved in reconstruction of concise dorsal horn cell receptive fields; 3) if formation of new functional connections aid in the consolidation of dorsal horn cell receptive fields; 4) if more detailed analysis of the integration of somatosensory inputs in intact preparations can enhance our knowledge of these plastic events. The information obtained should enable the identification of specific mechanisms involved in the observed plasticity. Once identified these mechanisms can then be studied further to determine if certain manipulations could perhaps reduce the inappropriate collateral sprouting or enhance the ability of dorsal horn cells to construct concise receptive fields.