Visually evoked synaptic activity of tectal neurons

描述（由申请人提供）：在接下来的5年里，这个项目的主要目标将是分析爪蟾蝌蚪顶盖神经元的视觉诱发突触活动。特别是，树突状树上活动区域的时间和空间模式将在一般发育期间以及在突触强度诱导变化期间进行检查。为此，图示视觉刺激和多个膜片钳记录顶盖细胞将与同时多光子激光扫描钙成像相结合。膜片钳记录将提供突触反应的振幅和快速时间动态，双光子钙成像将揭示三维空间模式。突触将被视网膜神经节细胞的直接电刺激以及呈现给视网膜的视觉图像所激活。为了诱导突触连通性的变化，将使用几种电刺激和视觉刺激范式。这些实验将为复杂生理输入的树突整合和脊椎动物视觉系统中感受野的发展提供新的信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over the next 5 years, the main objective of this project will be to analyze visually evoked synaptic activity in tectal neurons of Xenopus tadpoles. In particular, the temporal and spatial patterns of active regions on the dendritic trees will be examined during development in general and also during periods of induced changes in synaptic strength. To this end patterned visual stimulation and multiple patch-clamp recordings of tectal cells will be combined with simultaneous multi-photon laser scanning calcium imaging. Patch clamp recordings will provide the amplitude and the fast temporal dynamics of synaptic responses and two-photon calcium imaging will reveal the spatial pattern in three dimensions. Synapses will be activated by direct electrical stimulation of retinal ganglion cells as well as by visual images presented to the retina. To induce changes in synaptic connectivity several electrical and visual stimulation paradigms will be used. These experiments will provide new information about dendritic integration of complex physiological inputs and about the development of receptive fields in the vertebrate visual system.