MRI: Procurement of a Shared Confocal Microscope Facility at the Institute of Neurobiology

波多黎各大学医学院的Mark W. Miller博士获得了一笔赠款，用于在神经生物学研究所建立激光扫描共聚焦显微镜（LSCM）设施。这个设施将由组成研究所的十个实验室的研究人员和学生共同使用。这些实验室利用各种模型系统，从蟑螂的突触发育和规范到人类的视网膜衰老，来解决现代神经科学面临的一些最具挑战性的问题。虽然这些研究项目的范围各不相同，但由于某些方法上的考虑和限制，这些研究项目是统一的。特别是，它们都需要在高度复杂的组织中定位特定的蛋白质、信使rna或生理事件。神经元复杂的三维结构，其显著的表型异质性，及其复杂的分类和运输能力，给需要精确定位荧光信号或标记的研究带来了巨大的障碍。然而，在许多情况下，以前由这些因素施加的限制已经被共聚焦显微镜的引入所克服，共聚焦显微镜是一种使研究人员能够以远远超过传统显微镜的分辨率检测和定位荧光信号的仪器。在神经生物学研究所进行的这项研究致力于增进我们对神经系统结构和功能的了解。具体方案包括：(1)老龄地鼠昼夜节律系统中神经肽Y和GABA的表达（Dr. N. Lugo），(2)视神经损伤后神经节细胞的树突状重构（Dr. R. Blanco），人类脊髓神经元的存活和再生（Dr. D. Kuffler），(4)血管平滑肌亚细胞钙信号的超快速成像（Dr. L. Santana），(5)嵌入的旁系物在神经元解剖和突触连接中的作用（Dr. J.M. Blagburn），(6)共递质和复杂行为的调节（M. W. Miller博士），(7)波多黎各人群的视网膜衰老（E. kicl博士），以及(8)代谢性谷氨酸受体在节律生成神经网络中的功能作用（W. Krenz博士）。除了直接加强这些研究项目外，拟议的设施将对神经生物学研究所的教育目标和能力产生广泛的影响。波多黎各大学医学院和普遍定期审议彼德拉斯校区生物系的许多研究生在该研究所进行研究。此外，许多高级本科生通过参加独立调查课程来接受研究训练，他们可能因此获得学分和资助。最后，该研究所举办了一个热带神经行为学的暑期项目，将来自全国各地的本科生带到波多黎各进行为期5周的密集研究。共享激光扫描共聚焦显微镜设备的创建将明显丰富这些教育计划，并提高神经生物学研究所的培训目标。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Mark W. Miller at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus to establish a Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) facility at the Institute of Neurobiology. This facility will be shared by the investigators and students of the ten laboratories that comprise the Institute. These laboratories utilize a variety of model systems, ranging from synapse development and specification in the cockroach to retinal aging in the human, to address some of the most challenging issues facing modern Neuroscience. While diverse in scope, these research programs are unified by certain methodological considerations and limitations. In particular, they share a need to localize specific proteins, messenger RNAs, or physiological events, within highly complex tissues. The elaborate three-dimensional structures of neurons, their remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity, and their intricate sorting and trafficking capabilities present formidable obstacles to studies requiring the precise localization of fluorescent signals or markers. In many cases, however, the limitations previously imposed by these factors have been overcome by the introduction of the confocal microscope, an instrument that enables investigators to detect and localize fluorescent signals with a resolution that greatly exceeds the capabilities of traditional microscopy. The research conducted at the Institute of Neurobiology is dedicated increasing our understanding of the structure and function of nervous systems. Specific programs include: (1) Neuropeptide Y and GABA Expression in the Aging Ground Squirrel Circadian System (Dr. N. Lugo), (2) Dendritic Remodeling of Ganglion Cells after Optic Nerve Injury (Dr. R. Blanco), Survival and Regeneration of Human Spinal Cord Neurons (Dr. D. Kuffler), (4) Ultra-fast Imaging of Subcellular Calcium Signals in Vascular Smooth Muscle (Dr. L. Santana), (5) Role of Engrailed Paralogues in Specification of Neuronal Anatomy and Synaptic Connections (Dr. J.M. Blagburn), (6) Cotransmitters and the Regulation of Complex Behavior (Dr. M. W. Miller), (7) Retinal Aging in Human Populations in Puerto Rico (Dr. E. Kicliter), and (8) Functional Role of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in a Rhythm-generating Neuronal Network (Dr. W. Krenz). In addition to the direct enhancement of these research projects, the proposed facility will have a broad impact on the educational goals and capabilities of the Institute of Neurobiology. Numerous graduate students affiliated with the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and the Department of Biology at the UPR Rio Piedras campus conduct their research at the Institute. Moreover, many advanced undergraduate students receive research training by participating in an Independent Investigation course, for which they may receive both credit and funding. Finally, the Institute hosts a summer program in Tropical Neuroethology that brings undergraduate students from around the country to Puerto Rico for an intensive 5-week research experience. The creation of a shared Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope facility will clearly enrich these educational programs and enhance the training objectives of the Institute of Neurobiology.