SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN THE OLFACTORY BULB

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：气味信息处理 嗅球(OB)取决于嗅觉突触的特性 电路。OB中的大多数兴奋性突触都使用谷氨酸作为递质， 包括嗅觉神经元到嗅球神经元的突触和 二尖瓣/簇状细胞间神经元突触。尽管众所周知， Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic酸(AMPA)/钾盐 谷氨酸受体的亚型在这些突触中发挥着重要作用，这是 尚不清楚AMPA受体、海人藻酸受体或两者都参与其中，还是 这些受体既是突触前受体，也是突触后受体。这也是未知的 哪些OB神经元表达哪些受体亚型，而不是功能性或 这些亚型的神经调节特性。因为AMPA/海人藻酸受体 离子通道是由多个亚基组成的，亚基多样性强 影响受体的动力学和神经调节特性，以及 因此，突触回路的行为与气味处理有关。 本项目的具体目标是：1)确定 AMPA/海人藻氨酸谷氨酸受体亚基在嗅球中的表达 2)测定神经细胞AMPA/海人藻酸受体的功能多样性 3)确定嗅球神经元的突触特性。 激活AMPA/海人藻酸受体。 实验方法包括免疫细胞化学和膜片钳 原代培养和嗅球切片的电生理学。这些 实验应该提供对气味信息的更多了解 通过嗅球进行处理，并为无数 影响嗅觉功能的神经病理状态。

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.