Visually evoked synaptic activity of tectal neurons

描述（由申请人提供）：在接下来的5年里，本项目的主要目标是分析爪蟾蝌蚪顶盖神经元中视觉诱发的突触活动。特别是，时间和空间模式的树突状树上的活动区域将在一般的发展过程中，也在诱发突触强度的变化期间进行检查。为此，模式化的视觉刺激和顶盖细胞的多个膜片钳记录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幅度和快速的时间动态，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激活。为了诱导突触连接性的变化，将使用几种电刺激和视觉刺激范例。这些实验将提供有关复杂生理输入的树突整合和脊椎动物视觉系统感受野发育的新信息。

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.