Electrophysiology core facility for cellular and molecular neuroscience research

用于细胞和分子神经科学研究的电生理学核心设施

• 批准号: RTI-2017-00083
• 负责人: Parsons, Matthew
• 金额: $ 10.84万
• 依托单位: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=616547
• 关键词: Electrophysiology; core; facility; cellular; molecular

Cellular communication in the brain is carried out by electrical signals generated by neurons. To investigate how the nervous system functions, electrophysiology represents a widely-used neuroscience technique, as it provides the most sensitive and powerful measurements of extremely small current and voltage changes within neurons. Here, we are requesting a novel, state-of-the-art microelectrode array (MEA) system capable of simultaneous electrophysiological recordings from multiple sites and from multiple brain tissue samples. This will allow for the high-throughput investigation of how a population of brain cells functions in a network. This MEA approach will be complemented by the upgrade of an existing patch clamp recording setup that allows for the investigation of cellular and molecular mechanisms at the level of a single cell or ion channel. These upgrades will include optogenetics, a breakthrough technology that allows users to manipulate a specified cell-type within complex and heterogeneous brain tissue. Together, this infrastructure will represent the heart of a unique electrophysiology core facility at Memorial University. The applicants will use this technology to increase our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of brain function, including cell-cell communication, activity-dependent changes in the strength of cellular communication, the integration of newly-born neurons into functional circuits, and the regulation of mitochondria, the cell’s main energy source. It is important to understand these fundamental mechanisms of brain function in the healthy brain, as their perturbations can interfere dramatically with our everyday lives, including homeostasis, cognitive function, mood, stress and anxiety, amongst others. The infrastructure is expected to help us make significant contributions to the field of neuroscience and enhance our general understanding of how the brain works, while providing a state-of-the-art training facility for high quality personnel. In all, our application represents a cost-effective solution for fulfilling the electrophysiology needs of five different NSERC-funded programs. The requested infrastructure is essential for our research programs to be internationally competitive; without it, it will be impossible not only to maintain and expand on electrophysiological capabilities for our research programs, but also to continue to be an essential resource for researchers and trainees in Newfoundland and Labrador.

大脑中的细胞通信是通过神经元产生的电信号进行的。为了研究神经系统的功能，电生理学是一种广泛使用的神经科学技术，因为它提供了神经元内极小电流和电压变化的最灵敏和最强大的测量。 在这里，我们要求一种新的，国家的最先进的微电极阵列（MEA）系统能够同时从多个网站和多个脑组织样本的电生理记录。这将允许高通量研究一群脑细胞如何在网络中发挥作用。这种MEA方法将通过升级现有的膜片钳记录设置来补充，该膜片钳记录设置允许在单细胞或离子通道水平上研究细胞和分子机制。这些升级将包括光遗传学，这是一项突破性的技术，允许用户在复杂和异质的脑组织中操纵特定的细胞类型。总之，这一基础设施将代表纪念大学独特的电生理核心设施的核心。申请人将利用这项技术来增加我们对大脑功能基本机制的理解，包括细胞间通讯，细胞通讯强度的活动依赖性变化，新生神经元整合到功能电路中，以及线粒体的调节，细胞的主要能量来源。重要的是要了解健康大脑中大脑功能的这些基本机制，因为它们的扰动会严重干扰我们的日常生活，包括稳态，认知功能，情绪，压力和焦虑等。该基础设施预计将帮助我们为神经科学领域做出重大贡献，并提高我们对大脑如何工作的总体理解，同时为高素质人员提供最先进的培训设施。 总之，我们的应用代表了一种具有成本效益的解决方案，可满足五个不同的NSERC资助项目的电生理学需求。所要求的基础设施是必不可少的，我们的研究计划是国际竞争力;没有它，它将是不可能的，不仅要保持和扩大电生理能力，为我们的研究计划，而且要继续成为研究人员和学员在纽芬兰和拉布拉多的重要资源。