SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION DURING NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION

描述：（改编自申请人的摘要。）广泛的长期 目的是确定突触传递对神经元的作用， 分化 研究人员将重点研究 鸡前庭神经切向核（哺乳动物外侧 前庭神经核）。 主要的前庭眼反射。 特别 将注意到突触之间的传递模式， 发育中的主细胞和由巨纤维形成的突触 前庭神经巨大纤维 在开发过程中， 巨大的纤维突触，或匙形末端，经历了几次转变 包括形成化学突触，然后是混合突触， 主要是与主细胞的缝隙连接。 的高度 在这方面的特异性是无与伦比的脊椎动物神经 系统 研究人员将分析 虽然没有详细说明，但其电气传输 据报道，在哺乳动物大脑的几个部位发生。 他们将利用大脑切片，因为切向核具有高度的 组织结构非常适合切片分析。 细胞内和 细胞外记录将应用于切向核 刺激前庭神经节后。 膜和 主细胞的突触特性将在以下时间被定义： 匙形突触会发生变化 他们将从形态学上识别 细胞和突触记录从使用荧光染料和电子 显微镜 胚胎期缝隙连接出现的时间分析 出现并将在其他关键年龄重复该策略。 当中枢神经系统神经元之间的正常突触传递在 产前或产后早期发育，年轻人往往遭受减少 在整个生命的智力能力，如在学习的情况下 精神障碍和智力迟钝。 这些关于发育中的神经元和 突触可以为预防策略或新的治疗方法提供基础 用于突触传递疾病 此外，这些研究应 有助于我们理解前庭系统如何开始 功能和功能活动对神经元分化的作用， 神经元存活

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the Applicant's Abstract.) The broad long-term objective is to determine the role of synaptic transmission on neural differentiation. The investigators will focus on the principal cells of the tangential vestibular nucleus of the chick (mammalian lateral vestibular nucleus). The principal vestibulo-ocular reflexes. Special attention will be paid to the mode of synaptic transmission between the developing principal cells and the synapses formed by the giant fibers of the vestibular nerve, the colossal fibers. During development, the colossal fiber synapse, or spoon ending, undergoes several transitions including forming chemical synapses, then mixed synapses, and finally mainly gap junctions with the principal cells. The high degree of specificity in this connection is unsurpassed in the vertebrate nervous system. The investigators will analyze the onset and development of electrical transmission which has not been done in detail, in spite of its reported occurrence at several sites in the mammalian brain. They will utilize brain slices because the tangential nucleus has a highly organized structure well suited to slice analysis. Intracellular and extracellular recordings will be applied in the tangential nucleus following stimulation of the vestibular ganglion. The membrane and synaptic properties of the principal cells will be defined at times when the spoon synapses exhibit changes. They will identify morphologically the cells and synapses recorded from suing fluorescent dyes and electron microscopy. The analysis at the embryonic age when gap junctions first appear and will repeat the strategy at other critical ages. When normal synaptic transmission between CNS neurons is impaired during prenatal or early postnatal development, the young often suffer diminished intellectual abilities throughout life, as in the case of learning disorders and mental retardation. These studies on developing neurons and synapses may provide a basis for preventive strategies or new treatments for diseases of synaptic transmission. In addition, these studies should contribute to our understanding of how the vestibular system begins to function and the role of functional activity on neuron differentiation and neuron survival.