PHARMACOLOGY AND NEURAL CIRCUIT UNDERLYING BEHAVIOR

神经生物学研究的一个主要目标是了解神经系统的功能。 神经递质和受体系统的潜在组织， 神经系统的功能。 解决这个问题的一种方法是 研究一个有据可查的神经回路的突触生理学， 支持特定的行为。 这一方法已得到成功应用 对许多相对简单的神经系统的分析， 无脊椎动物 一种在细胞分析中有用的制备方法 是海洋软体动物Hermissenda。 神经回路 一个明确定义和量化的行为示例的基础将是 结合细胞神经生理学和 药理学技术 利用细胞内记录和刺激 技术假定的运动神经元和中间神经元， 来自视觉系统的输入将被识别， 机密 已识别的足神经元的相对贡献， 将研究趋光行为背后的网络的中间神经元 在完整的动物中， 光灭活技术 行为变化将被评估 在选择性消除神经元中的特定神经元后， 电路包括特定的感光器类型，中间神经元，和假定的 运动神经元 调节突触相互作用的神经递质 在这个网络的神经元之间，将使用药理学方法进行检查。 和电生理技术。 生物胺的作用，如 多巴胺和5-羟色胺在调节初级感觉活动中的作用 神经元和假定的运动神经元将在分离的神经细胞中进行研究。 系统 由于肽可以与其他神经递质一起出现， 将检查各种肽对光响应的影响。 一个 了解神经递质和受体系统在一个相对 简单神经网络及其生物胺和多肽调控 将为情感性精神障碍的研究提供一个有用的模型系统， 更复杂的哺乳动物神经系统

A major goal of neurobiological research is the understanding of the underlying organization of neurotransmitter and receptor systems related to the function of the nervous system. One approach to this problem is to study the synaptic physiology of a well-documented neural circuit that subserves a specific behavior. This approach has been successfully applied to an analysis of the relative simple nervous systems in many invertebrates. One preparation that has been useful in a cellular analysis of behavior is the marine mollusk Hermissenda. The neural circuit underlying a well-defined and quantified example of behavior will be studied using a combination of cellular neurophysiological and pharmacological techniques. Using intracellular recording and stimulation techniques putative motor neurons and interneurons that receive synaptic input from the visual system will be identified and the response to light classified. The relative contribution of identified pedal neurons and interneurons to the network underlying phototactic behavior will be studied in intact animals after eliminating specific neurons by the photoinactivation technique. Changes in behavior will be assessed following the selective elimination of specific neurons in the neuronal circuit including specific photoreceptor types, interneurons, and putative motor neurons. The neurotransmitters mediating the synaptic interactions among the neurons of this network will be examined using pharmacological and electrophysiological techniques. The role of biogenic amines such as dopamine and serotonin in modulating the activity of primary sensory neurons and putative motor neurons will be studied in the isolated nervous system. Since peptides may occur together with other neurotransmitters, the effects of various peptides on the photoresponse will be examined. An understanding of the neurotransmitter and receptor systems in a relatively simple neural network and its modulation by biogenic amines and peptides will provide a useful model system for studies of affective disorders in more complex mammalian nervous systems.