SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE OLFACTORY BULB

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）：通过以下方法处理气味信息： 嗅球（OB）依赖于嗅觉突触的特性， 电路. OB中的大多数兴奋性突触使用谷氨酸作为递质， 包括嗅觉感觉神经元-嗅球神经元突触， 二尖瓣/簇状细胞-中间神经元突触。 虽然众所周知， α-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基异恶唑-4-丙酸（AMPA）/钾盐镁矾 谷氨酸受体的亚型在这些突触中起着重要作用， 尚不清楚是否涉及AMPA受体、红藻氨酸受体或两者， 这些受体是突触前的以及突触后的。 尚不清楚 哪些OB神经元表达哪些受体亚型， 这些亚型的神经调节特性。 因为AMPA/红藻氨酸受体 是由多个亚基组成的离子通道，亚基多样性很强 影响受体的动力学和神经调节特性，和 因此，参与气味处理的突触回路的行为。 该项目的具体目标是：1）确定 AMPA/红藻氨酸谷氨酸受体亚单位在嗅球中的表达 2）确定AMPA/红藻氨酸受体在神经元上的功能多样性; 嗅球神经元;和3）为了确定突触的性质， 激活AMPA/红藻氨酸受体。 实验方法包括免疫细胞化学和膜片钳技术 在原代培养和嗅球切片中的电生理。 这些 实验应该提供对气味信息的更好理解 通过嗅球的处理，并提供线索， 影响嗅觉功能的神经病理状况。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): Odor information processing by the olfactory bulb (OB) is dependent on the properties of olfactory synaptic circuits. Most excitatory synapses in the OB use glutamate as a transmitter, including olfactory sensory neuron-to-olfactory bulb neuron synapses and mitral/tufted cell-to-interneuron synapses. Although it is known that the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainite subtypes of glutamate receptors play important roles at these synapses, it is not known whether AMPA receptors, kainate receptors, or both are involved or if these receptors are presynaptic as well as postsynaptic. It is also not known which OB neurons express which receptor subtypes nor the functional or neuromodulatory properties of these subtypes. Because AMPA/kainate receptors are ion channels formed from multiple subunits, subunit diversity strongly influences the kinetics and neuromodulatory properties of the receptor, and consequently, the behavior of synaptic circuits involved in odor processing. The specific aims of this project are: 1) To determine the pattern of expression of AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor subunits among olfactory bulb neurons; 2) To determine the functional diversity of AMPA/kainate receptors on olfactory bulb neurons; and 3) To determine the properties of synaptically activated AMPA/kainate receptors. The experimental approach includes immunocytochemistry, and patch-clamp electrophysiology in both primary culture and olfactory bulb slices. These experiments should provide a greater understanding of odor information processing by the olfactory bulb and provide clues to the myriad of neuropathological conditions that affect olfactory function.