哺乳动物大脑皮层网络中仅占神经元数量20%-30%的GABA能抑制型中间神经元在皮层网络中发挥着关键的作用。这些中间神经元具有不同形态，表达不同的标记蛋白，具备不同的电生理功能。皮层中间神经元的电活动一旦发生紊乱会导致多种神经发育疾病。在本项目中，我们建立条件敲除转录因子Dlx5/6的小鼠模型，结合光学成像、膜片钳技术、在体多电极记录、EEG和质谱分析等研究手段，系统研究该模型中不同类型中间神经元（以表达神经肽Y的中间神经元为主）的形态和功能，以及皮层网络中癫痫样放电的机制；并进一步揭示神经肽Y（NPY）调控Dlx5/6条件敲除导致癫痫的分子和细胞机制，从而为解决由于中间神经元失调导致的脑重大疾病的致病机理提供更新的理论依据，也为治疗癫痫的药物开发提供可能的药物靶点。

Inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, which represent a minority of neocortical neurons (20%-30%), play a crucial role in these cortical circuits, since their varieties of morphology, biomarkers and firing paten. The deficiency of the interneurons would lead to several neurologic or psychiatric diseases. In our study, a conditional knockout Dlx5/6 mice is prepared. In the transgenic model, multiple tools are utilized, including confocal imaging, patch clamp, multichannel recording, EEG and mass spectrum, in a bid to explore both the morphology and physiological function of various subtypes of interneurons (eg. NPY-expressing), and the electrophysiological activities of cortical network, as well as the mechanism of regulation of neuropeptide Y in Dlx5/6 CKO-induced epileptic firing. This work will renew the theory of the brain major disorder induced by interneuron dysregulation, and may join the candidate of drug target for epilepsy.