SYNAPTIC ORGANIZATION OF THE BASOLATERAL AMYGDALA

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）： 这项拟议中的研究是长期调查的开始， 突触组织的基底外侧杏仁核，将集中在基础 杏仁核（BAN）。杏仁核是前脑的主要区域之一 与情感有关。基底外侧杏仁核干的临床意义 从颞叶癫痫，阿尔茨海默病， 精神疾病（包括焦虑、抑郁和精神分裂症）。是 也是苯二氮卓类药物和其他精神药物的主要目标区域之一， 药物治疗尽管这个大脑区域很重要，但人们所知甚少 关于其组成精神疾病的突触组织 涉及杏仁核拟议的研究将集中在抑制 BAN的中间神经元。这些研究将使用免疫细胞化学 方法在光镜和电镜水平，以确定主要的 抑制性中间神经元的亚群并分析它们的连接：1） 与BAN的主要神经元，2）与多巴胺能，多巴胺能， 和BAN的去甲肾上腺素能传入，和3）彼此。突触 电生理学特征的主要神经元的连接， 还将检查中间神经元;这是第一次， 电生理学和超微结构技术将结合起来， 阐明杏仁核基底外侧的突触组织。此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 将确定BAN中的特定神经元间亚群是否 表现出GABA能、谷氨酸能和单胺能的特定亚型 受体，以及是否存在广泛的非突触相互作用， 单胺能递质与BAN神经元。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted From The Applicant's Abstract): The proposed study is the beginning of a long-term investigation of the synaptic organization of the basolateral amygdala that will focus on the basal amygdalar nucleus (BAN). The amygdala is one of the chief forebrain regions concerned with emotion. Clinical interest in the basolateral amygdala stems from its involvement in temporal lobe epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and psychiatric disorders (including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia). It is also one of the main regions targeted by benzodiazepines and other psychiatric medications. Despite the importance of this brain region, very little is known about the synaptic organization of its constituent psychiatric disorders involving the amygdala. The proposed studies will focus on the inhibitory interneurons of the BAN. These investigations will use immunocytochemical methods at the light and electron microscopic levels to identify the main subpopulations of inhibitory interneurons and to analyze their connections: 1) with the principal neurons of the BAN, 2) with the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and noradrenergic afferents to the BAN, and 3) with each other. The synaptic connections of electrophysiological characterized principal neurons and interneurons will also be examined; this represents the first time that electrophysiological and ultrastructural techniques will be combined to elucidate the synaptic organization of the basolateral amygdala. In addition, it will be determined if particular interneuronal subpopulations in the BAN exhibit specific subtypes of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and monoaminergic receptors, and whether there are extensive non-synaptic interactions of monoaminergic transmitters with BAN neurons.III.