NEURONAL CIRCUITRY CONTROLLING THE LENS AND PUPIL

正常视觉功能同样需要的是 控制到达视网膜的光量的瞳孔虹膜， 及其保护和有效运作，以及联合国 产生透镜调节的睫状肌， 物体聚焦成锐利的焦点。这两个基本要素中的任何一个受到损害， 主要是副交感神经功能导致视觉障碍，然而， 令人惊讶的是，人们对它们的中枢神经回路知之甚少。 利用结构-功能的方法，我们在知识的差距， 这两个系统的解剖学和生理学将被消除， 将来自识别的神经元的细胞内记录与它们的 辣根细胞内染色显示的形态学 过氧化物酶。具体来说，确定的节前运动神经元的 负责调节或瞳孔的Edinger-Westphal复合体 收缩将通过生理标准来区分， 细胞内注射，以确定它们的形态， 位置. 其次，这两个运动神经元群体的传入将 使用细胞内记录和染色技术鉴定。 将特别强调电生理学和 形态学确定突触之间的关系， 参与瞳孔收缩的运动神经元和两种结构： 视皮层20区。同样，突触 调节透镜的运动神经元与两种 球上结构、小脑间位核和 视觉皮层的克莱尔-毕晓普区，以及一个推测的中脑 住宿中心，将确定。 第三， 近反射将利用结合细胞内 研究中脑会聚中心之间连接的方法 节前运动神经元既促进调节又促进瞳孔收缩 收缩。 最后，将应用相同的技术来确定 非运动神经元在Edinger-Westphal复合体中的作用。 在 结论，这种相关的结构-功能研究方法将提供一个 更好地了解控制透镜的神经元回路 调节和瞳孔直径，使更深入了解疾病 这两种功能都是可能的。

Equally necessary for normal visual function are the actions of the pupillary iris that control the amount of light reaching the retina, for both its protection and effective functioning, and the actions of the ciliary muscle that produce accommodation of the lens, bringing the world's objects into sharp focus. Impairment of either of these essential, primarily parasympathetic functions causes visual disorders, yet surprisingly little is known about their central neuronal circuitry. Utilizing a structure-function approach, this gap in our knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of these two systems will be eliminated by correlating intracellular recordings from identified neurons with their morphology as revealed by intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase. Specifically, identified preganglionic motoneurons of the Edinger-Westphal complex responsible for accommodation or pupillary constriction will be distinguished by physiological criteria and intracellularly injected allowing determination of their morphology and location. Secondly, the afferents to these two motoneuron populations will be identified using intracellular recording and staining techniques. Particular emphasis will be placed on electrophysiological and morphological determination of the synaptic relationship between the motoneurons subserving pupillary constriction and two structures: the pretectum and area 20 of visual cortex. Similarly, the synaptic relationship between the motoneurons subserving lens accommodation and two suprabulbar structures, the interpositus nucleus of the cerebellum and Clare-Bishop area of visual cortex, as well as a presumed midbrain accommodation center, will be ascertained. Third, the circuitry underlying the near reflex will be investigated utilizing the combined intracellular approach to study the connectivity between the midbrain convergence center and preganglionic motoneurons subserving both accommodation and pupillary constriction. Finally, the same techniques will be applied to determine the role of the non-motoneurons in the Edinger-Westphal complex. In conclusion, this correlative structure-function approach will provide a better understanding of the neuronal circuitry that controls lens accommodation and pupillary diameter, making greater insight into disorders of these two functions possible.