Excitatory synapses in the deep cerebellar nuclei

描述（由申请人提供）：虽然已经清楚地证明小脑参与运动和联想学习，但仍不清楚这种学习在小脑内的何处以及如何发生。许多研究集中在浦肯野细胞的突触生理和电生理特性，但很少有研究探讨小脑深核（DCN）神经元在小脑回路中的作用。眼睑条件反射的行为研究表明，至少有一部分小脑学习发生或储存在小脑皮层之外，可能在DCN中。然而，很少有人知道兴奋性突触在DCN的属性，也没有直接的证据表明，在这个网站的突触可塑性。这项工作将提供深入了解兴奋性突触在DCN的功能，使这些突触的基本性质比以前做了更详细的研究。我们将开始调查的动力学，药理学敏感性，和电压依赖性的EPSCs，以及短期可塑性的EPSCs在列车的高频刺激。这些信息将有助于理解信息是如何在DCN的兴奋性突触中传输和处理的。此外，我们将研究是否长期可塑性是可能的兴奋性突触在DCN，如果是这样的话，产生增强或抑制的EPSC的条件和机制。这些数据将提供有关小脑，特别是DCN如何处理和存储信息的见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): While it has been clearly demonstrated that the cerebellum is involved in motor and associative learning, it is remains unclear where and how this learning takes place within the cerebellum. Many studies have focused on the synaptic physiology and electrophysiological properties of Purkinje cells, but very few studies have investigated the role of deep cerebellar nuclear (DCN) neurons in the cerebellar circuit. Behavioral studies of eyelid conditioning have suggested that at least a portion of cerebellar learning takes place or is stored outside the cerebellar cortex, likely in the DCN. However, little is known about the properties of excitatory synapses in the DCN and there has been no direct evidence of synaptic plasticity at this site. This work will provide insight on the function of excitatory synapses in the DCN by making a more detailed study of the basic properties of these synapses than has been done previously. We will begin by investigating the kinetics, pharmacological sensitivity, and voltage dependence of EPSCs, as well as the short-term plasticity of EPSCs during trains of high frequency stimulation. This information will help in understanding how information is transmitted and processed at excitatory synapses in the DCN. In addition, we will investigate whether long-term plasticity is possible at excitatory synapses in the DCN, and if so, the conditions and mechanisms that produce potentiation or depression of EPSCs. These data will provide insight on how information is processed and stored by the cerebellum and in the DCN in particular.