后梨状皮层锥体神经元在气味信息表征中的作用研究

梨状皮层是嗅觉重要的高级中枢，它接受来自嗅球的直接输入并可分为前梨状皮层和后梨状皮层。其中前梨状皮层参与气味信息类型和强度的表征、气味相关信息的价值表征、以及气味相关的学习记忆等，但后梨状皮层的功能一直不清楚。申请者最近的研究发现后梨状皮层锥体神经元对气味刺激的反应表现出任务依赖性，因此推测这些神经元在气味信息表征方面起重要作用。本研究拟结合使用光遗传技术、清醒头部固定多通道在体电生理记录、脑片膜片钳、气味分辨的行为学检测以及光纤钙记录等方法在不同层面对后梨状皮层锥体神经元的功能进行深入探讨。我们拟在描述后梨状皮层锥体神经元基本电生理特性的基础上，深入探讨其在气味的神经表征以及在动物气味分辨过程中的作用。研究结果一方面能为揭示后梨状皮层对气味表征和编码具体过程的神经环路提供新的线索，另一方面也能为我们理解嗅觉系统如何感知气味信息的细节提供新的认识。

Piriform cortex is an important olfactory center which receives direct input from the olfactory bulb and could be divided into anterior piriform cortex and posterior piriform cortex. While anterior piriform cortex is critically involved in representation of odor identity and intensity, representation of odor-related value, and odor-related learning and memory, the function of posterior piriform cortex remains elusive. Our recent study has identified that pyramidal neurons in the posterior piriform cortex have the ability to carry information on odor value, thus, it is likely that these neuros play important roles in odor information representation. We will study the function of pyramidal neurons in the posterior piriform cortex at different levels by combining optogenetics, in vivo multi-channel single cell recordings in awake head-fixed mice, in vitro patch clamp, olfactory discrimination behavioral test, and fiber photometry. After we describe the basic electrophysiological properties of the pyramidal neurons in the posterior piriform cortex, we will investigate the function of these neurons in neural representation of odor information and odor discrimination of the mice. The results will present new evidence on the neural circuits underlying how posterior piriform cortex represents and encodes odor information in details, and provide new information to help us to understand the process of how our olfactory system percepts odors.