LABORATORY CULTURE OF HERMISSENDA

本研究项目的主要目标是开发方法 这将可靠地使裸鳃类软体动物，Hermissenda 在实验室培养中饲养和维持， 建立标准化海洋实验室的目的 动物 这些动物在基因和营养上 定义以及无疾病和病原体。 他们将 通过精确建立的处理方法生产，并经过测试 通过旨在衡量和预测其业绩的标准， 研究使用的可靠性。 这将确保和支持使用 Hermissenda作为研究神经系统的研究资源 行为和学习的相关性及其潜在用途， 一种用于研究生物矿化的新模型系统（即，启动 钙化）。 具体方法包括：（1）调节成人饮食， 生育率和营养丰富的卵子，反过来， 正常、同步发育的比例较高;（2） 优化幼虫培养条件，包括营养、控制 兼性病原体和疾病， 变质诱导作用;（3）建立变质作用的形态学判据 定义和分期正常的幼虫和幼体发育;以及 (4)开始建立实验室饲养的 用于特定研究目的的动物。

The major objective of this research project is to develop methods which will reliably enable the nudibranch mollusc, Hermissenda crassicornis to be reared and maintained in laboratory culture for the purpose of establishing it as a standardized marine laboratory animal. These animals will be genetically and nutritionally defined as well as disease and pathogen free. They will be produced by precisely established methods of handling and tested by criteria designed to measure and predict their performance and reliability for research use. This will insure and support the use of Hermissenda as a research resource for investigating neural correlates of behavior and learning as well as its potential use as a new model system for studying biomineralization (i.e., initiation of calcification). Specific methods include (1) regulating adult diets to produce high fecundity rates and nutritionally rich ova which, in turn, promote high percentages of normal, synchronous development; (2) optimizing larval culture conditions to include nutrition, control of facultative pathogens and disease, and high percentages of metamorphic induction; (3) establishing morphologic criteria for defining and staging normal larval and juvenile development; and (4) begin establishing specific genetic strains of laboratory-reared animals for specific research purposes.