NEURONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BASOLATERAL AMYGDALA

这项拟议的研究是一项长期调查的继续， 神经元，神经化学，hodological，和突触组织的 大鼠杏仁核外侧核和基底外侧核。解剖 对大鼠ABL内感觉表征的研究将：1）描绘 视觉、听觉和躯体感觉皮质关联通路 2）确定终止的精确区域 在杏仁核的单峰和多峰皮质联合区， 以及丘脑感觉核团; 3）分析杏仁核内 从模态定义的ABL域的预测，以阐明 感觉会聚的解剖学基础。化学研究 ABL的神经解剖学将：1）确定 ABL的主要传出投射; 2）确定神经化学 ABL神经元的共存模式; 3）分析传入调节 ABL神经元中含有GABA和肽的递质水平; 4） 检查含有GABA的ABL神经元的直接传入神经支配， 肽;和5）确定改变ABL细胞中基因表达的ABL细胞类型。 对皮质激活的反应。实现这些目标的技术 包括：1）PHA-L顺行追踪技术; 2） 将联合收割机递质免疫组织化学（IHC）与PHA-L束 在光学和电子显微镜水平上追踪; 3）一种技术， 结合递质IHC和HRP逆行追踪; 4） 双抗原免疫组化; 5）化学刺激和损伤技术。 临床和实验研究表明，杏仁核是一种 负责情绪和记忆的主要前脑区域。它表现出 阿尔茨海默氏病中一个重要的神经病理学，涉及颞叶 叶癫痫，是GABA相关的主要作用部位之一， 苯二氮卓类药物（安定）和其他精神药物。的 ABL的化学微电路的知识，从提出的 研究将有助于了解解剖学，药理学， 这一重要脑区的生理学和病理生理学。

The proposed study is the continuation of a long-term investigation of the neuronal, neurochemical, hodological, and synaptic organization of the lateral and basolateral nuclei (ABL) of the rat amygdala. Anatomical studies of the sensory representation within the rat ABL will: 1) delineate the visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortical association pathways directed toward the amygdala; 2) determine the precise areas of termination in the amygdala of unimodal and polymodal cortical association areas as well as thalamic sensory nuclei; and 3) analyze intra-amygdaloid projections from modality-defined ABL domains in order to elucidate the anatomical substrates for sensory convergence. Studies of the chemical neuroanatomy of ABL will: 1) determine the neurotransmitters contained in the major efferent projections of ABL; 2) ascertain neurochemical coexistence patterns in neurons of ABL; 3) analyze the afferent regulation of transmitter levels in ABL neurons containing GABA and peptides; 4) examine the direct afferent innervation of ABL neurons containing GABA and peptides; and 5) determine the ABL cell types that alter gene expression in response to cortical activation. The techniques to accomplish these aims include: 1) the PHA-L anterograde tract tracing technique; 2) techniques that combine transmitter immunohistochemistry (IHC) with PHA-L tract tracing at the light and electron microscopic level; 3) a technique that combines transmitter IHC with HRP retrograde tract tracing; 4) double-antigen IHC; and 5) chemical stimulation and lesioning techniques. Clinical and experimental studies indicate that the amygdala is one of the major forebrain areas involved in emotion and memory. It exhibits significant neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease, is involved in temporal lobe epilepsy, and is one of the major sites of action of the GABA-related benzodiazepine drugs (Valium) and other psychopharmacological agents. The knowledge of the chemical microcircuitry of ABL gained from the proposed study will contribute to an understanding of the anatomy, pharmacology, physiology and pathophysiology of this important brain region.