Specificity and Range of NO/cGMP Signaling in the CNS

[00:778 . 12]中枢神经系统中NO/CGMP信号的范围和特异性皮Barry A. Trimmer，塔夫茨大学生物学中最大的挑战之一是了解大脑如何产生思想和行动。很明显，这些过程依赖于神经细胞（神经元）之间复杂的交流，通过分泌一种叫做神经递质的特殊化学物质。这些化学信息被附近细胞上的受体蛋白检测和解释。然而，一些神经元通过产生一种不稳定的可溶性气体一氧化氮（NO）来发出信号。这种不寻常的信使是最近才被发现的，因此人们对它在大脑中的作用知之甚少。该研究项目旨在了解一氧化氮从神经元释放时的特殊功能。我们已经确定了活体神经系统中产生和响应一氧化氮的单个神经元，我们的目标是确定它们是如何交流的。特别是，一氧化氮在大脑中的扩散有多远，它是如何靶向特定神经元的？这些实验使用成熟的电生理学方法和一种新技术，其中使用荧光染料定位一氧化氮。一氧化氮在心血管系统和免疫系统中具有重要的调节功能，但在大脑中，它同时与大量神经元接触的能力赋予了它协调复杂任务的潜力。通过探索一氧化氮信号的机制、专门化和局限性，本研究将有助于理解神经元群如何协同工作以产生适当的行为。

0077812TrimmerRANGE AND SPECIFICITY OF NO/CGMP SIGNALING IN THE CNS Pi Barry A. Trimmer, Tufts UniversityOne of the biggest challenges in biology is to understand how the brain produces thought and actions. It is clear that these processes depend on complex communication between nerve cells (neurons) through the secretion of specific chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemical messages are non-nally detected and interpreted by receptor proteins on nearby cells. However, some neurons signal by the production of an unstable soluble gas, nitric oxide (NO). This unusual messenger was discovered only recently hence comparatively little is known about its role in the brain. This research project seeks to understand the special functions of nitric oxide when it is released from neurons. We have identified individual nitric oxide-producing and responding neurons in the living nervous system and our goal is to establish how they communicate. In particular, how far does nitric oxide spread in the brain and how is it targeted to specific neurons? These experiments use well-established electrophysiological methods together with a novel technology in which nitric oxide is localized using a fluorescent dye.Nitric oxide has important regulatory functions in the cardiovascular and immune systems but in the brain its ability to simultaneously contact vast numbers of neurons give it the potential to coordinate complex tasks. By exploring the mechanisms, specializations and limitations of nitric oxide signaling this research will help to understand how groups of neurons work together to produce appropriate behaviors.