Molecular Identity and Functional Role of Voltage-gated Channels in Dendritic Spines of Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons

神经元通讯对大脑功能至关重要。为了确保正确的通信，神经元有专门用于接收信息的区域，称为树突，或用于发送信息的区域，称为轴突。轴突和树突之间的交流发生在称为突触的部位。皮层神经元的树突通常覆盖着成千上万的微小突起，称为树突棘。大多数兴奋性突触都是在树突棘上形成的，因此棘在信息处理和存储中扮演的角色可能至关重要。事实上，通常与学习和记忆相关的突触功效的长期变化也会导致棘形状的持久结构变化。最近的实验证据表明，棘是由动态分子调节的功能区室，可以影响突触通讯。在这个提议中，我计划在单棘水平上，沿着新皮层锥体神经元的树突，解开突触输入的处理过程。我将采取多方面的方法来解决这些目标，使用光学，电生理，结构和分子工具。我希望这些实验最终能让我们更好地理解树突棘的功能。

Neuronal communication is essential to brain function. To insure proper communication, neurons have regions that are specialised for receiving information, called dendrites, or for sending information, called axons. Communication between axons and dendrites occurs at sites called synapses. Dendrites of cortical neurons are often covered with thousands of tiny protrusions called dendritic spines. Most excitatory synapses are made on dendritic spines, so the role spines play is likely crucial for information processing and storage. In fact, long term changes of synaptic efficacy which are often associated to learning and memory also cause lasting structural changes of the shape of spines. Recent experimental evidence has suggested that spines are functional compartments regulated by dynamic molecules that can influence synaptic communication. In this proposal, I plan to unravel the processing of synaptic inputs at the single spine level, along the dendrites of neocortical pyramidal neurons. I will take a multifaceted approach to address these objectives using optical, electrophysiological, structural, and molecular tools. I expect that these experiments will eventually lead to a better understanding of dendritic spines function.