BRAIN TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION

这个项目涉及可塑性和功能后果的研究 纹状体传入系统的变化，特别是多巴胺能神经系统， 来自黑质的传入神经和海马神经 来自大脑皮层的传入神经。 所采用的技术包括： (i)移植含有儿茶酚胺或L-DOPA的细胞（即， 基因改变的细胞和从胚胎脑组织获得的细胞） （ii）生物化学和药理学研究，以及（iii） 使用组织培养模型的研究。 这些实验的目的 部分是为了：（A）阐明这些细胞的特性后， 移植和宿主脑对移植物的反应 （B）研究神经元适应的机制， 对损伤和慢性药物治疗的可塑性。 具体地，这些实验采用动物模型来：（1）开发 临床脑组织移植技术 帕金森病;（2）发展脑组织移植技术 这最终可能适用于其他疾病， 精神分裂症和癫痫，如果这些疾病成为 充分理解，以允许这样的应用;（3）开发 用于移植的替代细胞类型，如永生化神经元 以及相应的体外细胞模型研究 分化和细胞-细胞相互作用;和（4）阐明因素 控制大脑发育和大脑对损伤或损伤的反应， 特别强调黑质纹状体多巴胺系统。 期间 在上一个报告年度， 地区

This project involves studies of plasticity and functional consequences of changes in the striatal afferent systems, especially the dopaminergic afferents derived from the substantia nigra and the glutamatergic afferents derived from the cerebral cortex. Techniques employed involve: (i) transplanting cells containing catecholamines or L-DOPA (i.e., genetically altered cells and cells obtained from embryonic brain tissue) into the brain, (ii) biochemical and pharmacological studies, and (iii) studies using tissue culture models. The purpose of these experiments is in part to: (A) elucidate the properties of these cells after transplantation and the response of the host brain to the transplanted tissues, and (B) to investigate mechanisms of neuronal adaptation and plasticity in response to injury and chronic pharmacological treatments. Specifically, these experiments employ animal models to: (1) develop the techniques of brain tissue transplantation for clinical use in Parkinson's disease; (2) develop brain tissue transplantation techniques which eventually may be applicable to other disorders such as schizophrenia and epilepsy, if and when these disorders become sufficiently understood to permit such applications; (3) develop alternate cell types, such as immortalized neurons, for transplantation into the brain and corresponding in vitro model studies of cellular differentiation and cell-cell interactions; and (4) elucidate the factors controlling brain development and brain response to injury or impairment, with particular emphasis on the nigrostriatal dopamine system. During the past reporting year, significant progress has been made in these areas.