PRIMARY GUSTATORY CENTERS IN THE ZEBRAFISH BRAIN

该子项目是利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 鲤科是一类味觉系统高度发达的鱼类。 其中最值得注意的是金鱼和鲤鱼，它们在后脑中拥有复杂的神经结构，可以接收来自口咽腔中众多味蕾的味觉输入。 这种感觉输入从嘴侧口腔穿过面神经，从咽穿过舌咽神经和迷走神经。 味觉传入终止于延髓背侧的高度组织化的扩大部分，分别称为面叶、舌咽叶和迷走叶。 这些物种的迷走神经叶不仅扩大，而且分层，感觉输入终止于浅层，运动神经元位于深层。 感觉纤维和运动神经元都是有组织的，因此咽部在迷走神经叶中以地形学的方式表示。 我们正在研究味觉系统的一个较少的味觉专业化的鲤科鱼类，斑马鱼，以了解复杂的神经结构的发展的形态，功能和进化基础。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The Cyprinidae are a group of fishes with highly developed gustatory systems. Most notable among these are the goldfish and carps, which possess elaborate neural structures in the hindbrain that receive gustatory input from numerous taste buds in the oropharyngeal cavity. This sensory input travels through the facial nerve from the rostral oral cavity and through the glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves from the pharynx. The gustatory afferents terminate in highly organized enlargements of the dorsal medulla called the facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagal lobes, respectively. The vagal lobes of these species are not only enlarged, but also are laminated, with sensory input terminating in superficial layers and motor neurons located in deeper layers. Both sensory fibers and motor neurons are organized so that the pharynx is represented topographically in the vagal lobe. We are studying the gustatory system of a less taste-specialized cyprinid, the zebrafish, in order to understand the morphological, functional, and evolutionary bases for the development of complex neural structures.