Neuropeptides, synaptic modulation and behavior in arthropods

动物的行为是由中枢神经系统（CNS）产生的，并且受到可以在CNS内作用于神经肌肉靶点和内脏器官的激素的强烈影响。我研究的最终目标是了解激素调节行为的机制。 我的研究项目采取了一种综合的方法来解决这个问题，通过研究整个动物的行为，识别行为背后的激素和神经递质，并揭示激素和递质在细胞和亚细胞水平上的作用机制。 我用无脊椎动物作为研究的模型系统。 我的大部分工作都集中在“FMRFamide样肽”上，它似乎存在于所有动物中。 这些化学物质调节心脏、血管组织、神经细胞、肌肉细胞和内脏器官。 在接下来的5年里，我将研究允许特定的神经肽增强神经元和它们的靶细胞之间在化学突触上的通信的生化过程。 我还将确定不同的肽是否起着基本相同的作用，因此基本上是多余的，或者不同的肽是否作用于特定的细胞。 我也将研究同一物种成员之间的攻击性相互作用，并确定这种行为是否被神经肽激素改变。 这项工作将提供一个更完整的图片如何激素的生化和细胞的行动是整合产生和/或修改行为。拟议的实验将在小龙虾和果蝇上进行，它们具有简单、经过充分研究的神经系统和易于识别和量化的刻板行为的优势。果蝇也有一个完全测序的基因组和许多突变体和基因工程菌株，可用作研究特定生化途径的工具。 该提案将支持加拿大的细胞和行为神经科学研究，并将培养高素质的加拿大研究人员。

Behavior in animals is produced by the central nervous system (CNS) and is strongly influenced by hormones that can act within the CNS, on neuromuscular targets and on visceral organs. The ultimate goal of my research is to understand the mechanisms through which hormones modulate behavior. My research program takes an integrated approach to this problem by studying behavior at the level of whole animals, identifying hormones and neurotransmitters that underlie behavior, and uncovering the mechanisms of action of hormones and transmitters at the cellular and sub-cellular levels. I use invertebrates as model systems for study. Much of my work has focused on "FMRFamide-like peptides", which appear to be present in all animals. These chemicals regulate the heart, vascular tissues, nerve cells, muscle cells and visceral organs. During the next 5 years, I will examine the biochemical processes that allow specific neuropeptides to enhance communication between neurons and their target cells at chemical synapses. I will also determine whether different peptides play essentially the same role and, thus, are essentially redundant, or whether different peptides act on specific cells. I will also examine aggressive interactions between members of the same species and determine whether or not such behaviors are modified by neuropeptide hormones. This work will provide a more complete picture of how biochemical and cellular actions of hormones are integrated to produce and/or modify behavior. The proposed experiments will be performed on crayfish and fruitflies, which offer advantages of having simple, well-studied nervous systems and stereotypical behaviors that are easy to identify and quantify. Fruitflies also have a completely sequenced genome and many mutant and genetically engineered strains that can be used as tools for investigating specific biochemical pathways. This proposal will support cellular and behavioral neuroscience research in Canada and will produce highly qualified Canadian researchers.