STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF INNER EAR SENSORS

内耳传感器的结构和功能

• 批准号: 6271649
• 负责人: MICHAEL G SNEARY
• 金额: $ 11.75万
• 依托单位: SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-09-01 至 1999-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6271649
• 关键词: Chelonia; behavioral /social science research tag; biological information processing; ear hair cell; electrophysiology; labyrinth; light microscopy; microelectrodes; motion perception; neuroanatomy; scanning electron microscopy; scanning transmission electron microscopy

The long-term objective of the research described in this application is to elucidate structure-function relationships in inner ear sensors. These relationships are expected to be rich in implications regarding the physical mechanisms employed in signal processing. A thorough understanding of the relationship between sensor structure and function is necessary so that the underlying mechanisms of inner ear pathologies might be understood and rational measures undertaken to alleviate them. Inner ear sensors process a variety of incoming sensory signals including airborne auditory, substrate-borne seismic and internally generated signals concerning the position and movement of the head in space. The proposed study focuses on the structure and function of two of these sensors; the auditory sensor and the saccule. The animal model used in our studies is the red-eared turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans). The structural and functional similarity between the turtle auditory sensor and that of other vertebrates including mammals has resulted in substantial contributions to the understanding of auditory sensory cell biophysics and signal processing. The research described in this proposal will take advantage of the proven utility of the turtle inner ear and extend its use to studies of seismic sensitivity. Two major questions will be addressed; 1) How are the various components of the peripheral auditory sensor in the turtle organized to provide signal frequency characteristics and source location?, and 2) What is the specific role of the saccule in this model system? Sensor morphology will be studied with light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Functional parameters of individual primary afferent nerve fibers will be identified electrophysiologically using microelectrodes advanced into the eighth cranial nerve. This approach allows the investigator to study information encoded in the activity of nerve fibers leaving the sensor: as it is normally received by the central nervous system. The principal investigator is trained in each of the experimental methods required to complete the goals of the proposed research.

本申请中描述的研究的长期目标是 阐明内耳传感器的结构-功能关系。 这些 关系预计将在丰富的影响， 信号处理中使用的物理机制。 的透彻 了解传感器结构和功能之间的关系， 必要的，以便内耳病理学的潜在机制， 理解并采取合理的措施来缓解这些问题。 内 耳传感器处理各种传入的感觉信号 机载听觉、基片地震和内部生成 关于头部在空间中的位置和运动的信号。 的 建议的研究重点是其中两个的结构和功能， 听觉传感器和球囊。 所用的动物模型 本研究的对象是红耳龟（Pseudemys scripta elegans）。 的 海龟的听觉传感器在结构和功能上 包括哺乳动物在内的其他脊椎动物 对理解听觉感觉细胞的重要贡献 生物物理学和信号处理。 本提案中所述的研究 将利用海龟内耳已被证明的实用性， 将其用于地震敏感性研究。 两大问题 1）外设的各个组件如何 听觉传感器在海龟组织提供信号频率 特征和源位置？（2）具体作用是什么？ 这个模型系统中的球囊？ 传感器形态学研究将采用 光学显微镜和扫描和透射电子显微镜。 单个初级传入神经纤维的功能参数将是 使用微电极在电生理学上识别， 第八脑神经 这种方法允许研究人员研究 在离开传感器的神经纤维的活动中编码的信息： 它通常由中枢神经系统接收。 校长 研究者接受所需的每种实验方法的培训， 完成所提出的研究目标。