Neurobiology of peptidergic and aminergic neurons in insects

我的研究项目的中心主题是昆虫神经系统的功能。我们正在建立神经系统交流的机制；使用神经生理学、神经化学、内分泌学和分子生物学技术检查激素、突触和调节机制。我们正在问的问题对所有神经系统来说都是至关重要的：神经元如何将信息传递给目标细胞？哪些类型的化学物质充当这种信息的传递者，这些化学信息是如何被目标细胞翻译的？这种信息如何被调节和协调，以在动物身上产生适当的行为？特别是，我们感兴趣的是多肽和胺作为神经激素的作用，释放到血液中以协调不同细胞组的活动，以及作为神经调节器，调节不同途径正在进行的活动。我们专注于一些已识别的多肽家族和胺以及新的多肽，结合多种技术来寻求对适当细胞的整合和调节的完整了解。

The central theme of my research program is the functioning of the insect nervous system. We are establishing the mechanisms by which the nervous system communicates; examining hormonal, synaptic, and modulatory mechanisms using neurophysiological, neurochemical, endocrinological, and molecular biological techniques. The questions we are asking are fundamentally important for all nervous systems: How can a neuron transmit information to a target cell? What types of chemicals act as the transmitters for this information and how are these chemical messages translated by the target cell? How can this information be modulated and coordinated to produce an appropriate behaviour in the animal? In particular we are interested in the role of peptides and amines as neurohormones, released into the blood to co-ordinate activities of diverse groups of cells, and as neuromodulators, modulating the ongoing activities of distinct pathways. We focus on a number of identified peptide families and amines and novel peptides, incorporating multiple techniques in the quest for a complete understanding of the integration and regulation of the appropriate cells.