MAPPING THE ZINC-CONTAINING PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN

最近的研究表明，锌起着重要的作用， 在哺乳动物中枢神经系统中的神经调节作用。 现在已知特定的含锌神经元群体 存在于大脑中，特别是在重要的区域， 认知和情感功能。 然而，在这个时候， 了解这些群体的位置或传出投射 的神经元。 这里提出的研究目标是绘制 大脑的主要含锌途径，使用大鼠作为 实验模型。 含锌神经元将锌隔离在其 轴突终扣 在目前的工作中， 含锌钮扣将通过使用两个 补充组织化学方法，新蒂姆的， 选择性标记含金属的钮子，和喹啉 荧光，这是一种新开发的特异性标记物， 锌。 喹啉组织荧光测定法也将用于获得 含锌化合物相对数量的定量估计 特定脑区的扣结。 含锌纤维系统的传出通路将 通过常规损伤/变性方法进行研究， 用锌组织化学来证明锌的损失， 含有纤维变性后的终扣。 以补充 在选定病例中进行变性研究，逆行轴突 标记的锌离子的转运将用于定位起源细胞。 这些结果将揭示出一些 大脑中主要的含锌回路， 为今后的理论和实验奠定经验基础， 这些神经元。

Recent studies indicate that zinc plays important neuromodulatory roles in the mammalian central nervous system. Specific populations of zinc-containing neurons are now known to be present in the brain, particularly in areas important for cognitive and emotional function. At this time however, little is known about the locations or efferent projections of these groups of neurons. The goal of the research proposed here is to map the principal zinc-containing pathways of the brain, using the rat as an experimental model. Zinc-containing neurons sequester zinc in the vesicles of their axon boutons. In the present work, the regional distribution of zinc-containing boutons will be determined by use of two complementary histochemical methods, neo-Timm's, which selectively labels metal-containing boutons, and quinoline fluorescence, which is a newly-developed specific marker for zinc. Quinoline histofluorometry will also be used to obtain quantitative estimates of the relative numbers of zinc-containing boutons in selected brain regions. The efferent pathways of the zinc-containing fiber systems will be studied by conventional lesion/degeneration methods, coupled with zinc-histochemistry to demonstrate the loss of zinc- containing boutons after fiber degeneration. To complement the degeneration studies in selected cases, retrograde axonal transport of labeled zinc ions will be used to locate cells of origin. The results will reveal the anatomical organization of some of the principal zinc-containing circuits in the brain, providing an empirical foundation for future theory and experimentation on these neurons.