SENSORY INPUT ONTO THE SEROTONERGIC NEURONS IN THE LEECH

描述 在许多无脊椎动物和脊椎动物物种中，5-羟色胺起着相对 保守的神经调节作用，影响运动输出和概率 做出不同的行为。在人类中，5-羟色胺一直强烈地 与忧郁症有关。然而，它是如何实现的，目前还没有明确的想法 它的行为影响也不是5-羟色胺能的自然输入 系统。对自然途径的全面描述 5-羟色胺能系统被激活可以揭示它的生理 行动。在水蚤中，5-羟色胺能系统由几种类型的 神经元容易获得电生理学研究。最主要的来源 在这个系统中，5-羟色胺的Retzius(Rz)神经元接收到强烈的 压力机械感觉(P)神经元的兴奋性输入。P-Rz 连接是一种多突触通路，它横跨整个神经索和 允许将机械感觉输入从身体的任何部位引导到广泛的 5-羟色胺能输出。合作者将调查 介导P-Rz相互作用的神经通路。他们的目标是 给出参与这一通路的神经元的完整描述。 这将使他们能够分析感觉输入通道如何快速产生 行为反应，同时激活调节通路 这会改变生物体的行为反应。

DESCRIPTION In many invertebrate and vertebrate species serotonin plays a relatively conserved neuromodulatory role, affecting motor output and the probability of performing different behaviors. In humans, serotonin has been strongly associated with depression. Yet, there is no clear idea of how it achieves its behavioral effects nor what is the natural input to the serotonergic system. A comprehensive description of the natural pathway through which the serotonergic system is activated could shed light on its physiological action. In the leech the serotonergic system is composed of a few types of neurons readily accessible to electrophysiological study. The major source of serotonin in this system, the Retzius (Rz) neurons, receive strong excitatory input from the pressure mechanosensory (P) neurons. The P-Rz connection is a polysynaptic pathway which spans the entire nerve cord and allows to channel mechanosensory input from any site of the body into a wide serotonergic output. The collaborators will investigate the organization of the neuronal pathway that mediates the P to Rz interaction. Their goal is to give a full description of the neurons that participate in this pathway. This will allow them to analyze how the sensory input channel produces fast behavioral responses, and at the same time activates modulatory pathways that change the behavioral responsiveness of the organism.