REGULATION OF SYNAPTIC SPECIFICITY

建议继续进行神经突再生的研究 和神经细胞间突触形成的特异性。 一 对这些现象和相关现象的详细了解， 对于扩展关于正常和异常的知识至关重要 发展，并制定策略，以帮助病人康复 神经系统损伤后的功能。 制度 将在原代细胞培养物中的大的可识别的失神经元， 用于检查突触特异性和突触可塑性。 这些神经元再生神经突， 和化学突触，已经发现， 生长和特异性的模式可以通过添加 凝集素伴刀豆球蛋白A的培养基。 因此虽然 伴刀豆球蛋白A本身不太可能参与神经元的 发展，它可以作为一种工具，调查基本的 突触发生的问题 现在建议在这些基础上， 研究结果，并提出有关的分子机制的问题， 伴刀豆球蛋白A的作用， 电生理、生物化学和分子生物学 方法。 这些多学科研究的长期目标是 是了解突触特异性的分子基础， 突触可塑性，这种现象对于正确的 神经系统的功能。

It is proposed to continue ongoing studies of neurite regeneration and specificity of synapse formation between nerve cells. A detailed understanding of these and related phenomena will be essential for extending knowledge about normal and abnormal development, and for devising strategies to help patients recover function following injury to the nervous system. The system of large identifiable Aplysia neurons in primary cell culture will be used to examine synaptic specificity and synaptic plasticity. These neurons regenerate neurites and form specific electrical and chemical synapses in culture, and it has been found that the patterns of growth and specificity can be changed by adding the lectin Concanavalin A to the culture medium. Thus, although Concanavalin A itself is unlikely to be involved in neuronal development, it can be used as a tool to investigate fundamental problems in synaptogenesis. It is proposed now to build on these findings and ask questions about the molecular mechanisms of action of Concanavalin A, using a combination of electrophysiological, biochemical and molecular biological approaches. The long term goal of these multidisciplinary studies is to understand the molecular basis of synaptic specificity and synaptic plasticity, phenomena which are essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.