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

神经元间的交流对大脑功能至关重要。为了确保适当的交流，神经元有专门用于接收信息的区域，称为树突，或专门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地方。皮层神经元的树突通常覆盖着成千上万个被称为树突棘的微小突起。大多数兴奋性突触都是在树突棘上形成的，所以树突棘在信息处理和存储中扮演的角色很可能是至关重要的。事实上，突触效能的长期变化通常与学习和记忆有关，也会导致脊髓形状的持久结构变化。最近的实验证据表明，脊椎是由动态分子调节的功能室，可以影响突触的通讯。在这个提案中，我打算解开突触输入的处理在单一脊柱水平，沿着新皮质锥体神经元的树突。我将采用多方面的方法，利用光学、电生理、结构和分子工具来解决这些问题。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.