SYNAPTIC SPECIFITY IN THE SPINAL CORD

这些研究的长期目标是确定 参与调节的神经末梢膜组分 脊髓中特定的突触联系。组成成分 神经末梢表面质膜广泛存在 被认为在形成和发展过程中起着至关重要的作用 维持突触连接。据推测，具体的 不同脊椎种群形成的突触关系 传入神经末梢反映在 它们的突触前膜的组成。然而， 参与调节的独特突触前膜蛋白 具体的突触联系尚未确定。单克隆 针对突触膜抗原的抗体 已经开发出识别突触前膜蛋白的方法 与脊神经末梢有关。虽然其中很多都是 抗体识别突触终末的普遍成分， 另一些则是脊髓传入神经亚群特有的。 终点站。其中一个是针对突触的 囊泡膜抗原，它似乎有一些 一种突触前膜蛋白的预期性质 参与调节特定的突触联系。的目标是 建议的研究是：1)确定时间进程 该抗原在脊髓发育过程中的表达 包括抗原的超微结构定位。 脊髓背角内的突触发生；2)识别起源 脊髓神经通路中含有抗原和 确定这些神经元中可能的神经递质(S)； 绘制抗原在中央的其他部分的分布图 和周围神经系统以及非神经性分泌 细胞；4)确定这种抗原的关联程度 神经末梢质膜，特别是 突触连接区和突触间隙；5) 确定抗原的特征以确定它是否是 外周或完整膜蛋白提纯抗原 并研制出针对其的单特异性多克隆抗血清。一个 研究的第二部分将针对确定其他 神经末梢突触质膜蛋白可能 参与调节脊髓内突触的特异性。 光镜和电子显微镜的免疫细胞化学方法， 以及各种免疫化学程序将用于 这些调查。这些研究的结果可能会 对理解这些机制有重要的意义 参与突触的形成和维持 脊髓中的连接。

The long term goal of these studies is the identification of the nerve terminal membrane components involved in mediating specific synaptic linkages in the spinal cord. Constituents of the nerve terminal surface plasma membrane are widely believed to have a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of synaptic connections. Presumably, the specific synaptic relationships formed by different populations of spinal afferent nerve terminals are reflected by differences in the composition of their presynaptic membranes. However, the unique presynaptic membrane proteins involved in mediating specific synaptic linkages are yet to be identified. Monoclonal antibodies directed against synaptic membrane antigens have been developed which identify presynaptic membrane proteins associated with spinal nerve terminals. While many of these antibodies recognize ubiquitous components of synaptic endings, others are specific to subpopulations of spinal afferent nerve terminals. One in particular is directed against a synaptic vesicle membrane antigen which appears to have some of the properties expected of a presynaptic membrane protein involved in mediating specific synaptic linkages. The aims of the proposed studies are to: 1) determine the time course of expression of this antigen in the spinal cord during development including, ultrastructural localization of the antigen during synaptogenesis in the spinal dorsal horn; 2) identify the origins of the spinal neuronal pathways which contain the antigen and determine the putative neuro-transmitter(s) in these neurons; 3) map the distribution of the antigen in other parts of the central and peripheral nervous system and in non-neuronal secretory cells; 4) determine to what extent this antigen is associated with the nerve terminal plasma membrane and specifically with the synaptic junctional region and synaptic cleft; 5) characterize the antigen the determine whether it is a peripheral or integral membrane protein 6) purify the antigen and develop a monospecific, polyclonal antiserum to it. A second part of the studies will be directed at identifying other nerve terminal synaptic plasma membrane proteins which may be involved in mediating synaptic specificity in the spinal cord. Immunocytochemical methods for light an electron microscopy, along with various immunochemical procedures will be used in these investigations. The results of these studies are likely to have significant implications for understanding the mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of synaptic connections in the spinal cord.