Synaptic Plasticity and Function in the Mormyrid cerebellum

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公共法律111-5)资助的。小脑是大脑的一大部分，涉及感觉-运动控制、运动学习以及认知。大多数科学家认为，运动学习是在两个不同的部位进行调节的，即小脑皮层和小脑深核(DCN)。小脑皮质的所有作用都是通过浦肯野细胞对DCN神经元的抑制来实现的。然而，哺乳动物中这两种重要细胞类型之间的巨大空间分离阻碍了我们对DCN细胞如何将来自Purkinje细胞的抑制输入与来自其他来源的兴奋输入相结合的理解。这个项目关注的是一个特殊的系统，桑鱼的尾侧小脑叶，在那里这两种细胞类型是紧密相连的。这两种细胞类型在小脑中的接近，将允许PI在体外切片制备中同时记录两种细胞类型。这样的记录将使浦肯野细胞对其靶神经元的影响得以准确确定。突触动力学和可塑性的测定将促进我们对小脑功能回路的理解。科学老师和学生对变态的电鱼和它们用来探测环境和与其他鱼交流的电脉冲很感兴趣。来自当地学校的学生和教师团体将参与这个项目，通过动手实验检查这些鱼及其排泄物。这样的实验将有助于激发学生对生物科学和物理科学的兴趣。目标将是让电鱼成为科学课程的一部分。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The cerebellum is a large part of the brain that is involved in sensory-motor control and motor learning as well as in cognition. Most scientists consider that motor learning is mediated at two separate sites, the cerebellar cortex and the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). All effects of the cerebellar cortex are mediated by Purkinje cell inhibition of DCN neurons. However, our understanding of how cells of the DCN integrate inhibitory input from Purkinje cells with excitatory input from other sources has been impeded by the large spatial separation between these two important cell types in mammals. This project focuses on a special system, the caudal cerebellar lobe of mormyrid fish, where these two cell types are close together. The proximity of these two cell types in the mormyrid cerebellum will allow the PI to record simultaneously from both cell types in an in vitro slice preparation. Such recording will allow the effects of Purkinje cells on their target neurons to be determined precisely. Determination of synaptic dynamics and plasticity at this synapse will advance our understanding of the functional circuitry of the cerebellum. Science teachers and students are intrigued by mormyrid electric fish and the electrical pulses they use to probe the environment and communicate with other fish. Groups of students and teachers from local schools will participate in this project examining these fish and their discharges through hands-on experiments. Such experiments will help stimulate student interest in both the biological and physical sciences. The goal will be to make electric fish part of the science curriculum.