National Resource for Aplysia

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案描述了国家海兔资源的延续，其总体目标是为研究人员提供持续高质量的养殖加州海兔（及其养殖红藻食物）。加利福尼亚拟虫是一种重要的非脊椎动物（蛇目软体动物）健康相关研究的模型系统，主要是在行为和学习的神经生理学方面。我们将继续生产用于研究的动物，并开展旨在探索新模式用途和改善资源的基础研究。有四个子项目/具体目标：

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal describes the continuation of the National Resource for Aplysia, whose overall goal is to provide consistently high-quality cultured sea hares Aplysia californica (and their cultured red algal food) to researchers. A. californica is an important non-vertebrate (Opisthobranch mollusk) model system for health- related research, primarily in the neurophysiology of behavior and learning. We will continue to produce animals for research and to conduct basic research aimed at exploring new model uses and at improving the resource. There are four sub-projects/specific aims: 1. Production - Sales of animals to researchers in the US and internationally is projected to continue at present levels of 25,000 to 30,000 animals per year. This resource makes available high-quality A. californica at all life stages from eggs through mature adults by rearing animals in carefully controlled laboratory conditions. All life-stages are available in sufficient quantities to meet user demand throughout the year, eliminating reliance on wild-collected animals which have limited seasonal availability and are of unknown age and health status. 2. Production research programs - The resource has been continuously improved over the past 12 years by research to optimize rearing conditions for most life stages of A. californica. The proposed research program will focus on measurement and improvement of egg quality. 3. Animal Health Monitoring - We will continue a monitoring program based on screening animal health parameters to assure rapid detection and complete documentation of any disease processes that might occur in any developmental stages of animals at the hatchery. Any disease syndromes and suspected pathogens observed will be investigated and appropriate control measures applied. 4. Developmental Neurophysiology - We will begin to develop Aplysia as an aging model by studying the changes in D-Aspartate- and other agonist-activated ionic currents that modulate sensory neuron input in the tail withdrawal reflex, using single cell voltage clamping and recording of the intact reflex. Through this combination of production and basic research, we will improve the model system and extend its usefulness to other areas of research. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE STATEMENT (provided by applicant): The California sea hare, Aplysia californica, is a large marine snail with a very simple nervous system. The National Resource for Aplysia raises and ships 25,000 to 30,000 of these animals per year to labs in the US and around the world for conducting basic research in neurobiology and behavior. This proposal would continue the production of these animals and expand their usefulness concerning studies of aging and Alzheimer's disease. D-Aspartate