NEURONAL CIRCUITRY CONTROLLING THE LENS AND PUPIL

对于正常的视觉功能，同样必要的是 控制到达视网膜的光量的瞳孔虹膜， 它的保护和有效运作，以及 睫状肌产生晶状体的调节，带来世界上 将物体聚焦到清晰的焦点上。这两个基本因素中的任何一个的损害， 主要是副交感神经功能导致视力障碍，但 令人惊讶的是，人们对它们的中枢神经回路知之甚少。 利用结构-功能方法，我们对 这两个系统的解剖学和生理学将被消除 来自已识别神经元的细胞内记录与其 辣根细胞内染色所显示的形态 过氧化物酶。具体地说，已识别的节前运动神经元 Edinger-Westphal复合体负责调节或瞳孔 缩窄症将通过生理标准和 细胞内注射允许测定它们的形态和 地点。其次，这两个运动神经元种群的传入神经元将 使用细胞内记录和染色技术进行鉴定。 将特别强调电生理和 突触之间突触关系的形态测定 支配瞳孔收缩的运动神经元和两种结构： 顶盖前和视皮层20区。同样，突触 支配晶状体调节的运动神经元与晶状体调节的关系 球上结构、小脑间位核和 克莱尔-毕晓普视皮层区域，以及推测的中脑 住宿中心，将被确定。第三，基础电路 近反射将利用结合的细胞内反射进行研究 研究中脑汇聚中心之间连通性的方法 支配调节和瞳孔的节前运动神经元 收缩。最后，同样的技术将被应用于确定 非运动神经元在Edinger-Westphal复合体中的作用。在……里面 结论，这种相关的结构-功能方法将提供一个 更好地了解控制晶状体的神经回路 调节和瞳孔直径，使人们对疾病有了更深入的了解 这两个功能中的一个是可能的。

Equally necessary for normal visual function are the actions of the pupillary iris that control the amount of light reaching the retina, for both its protection and effective functioning, and the actions of the ciliary muscle that produce accommodation of the lens, bringing the world's objects into sharp focus. Impairment of either of these essential, primarily parasympathetic functions causes visual disorders, yet surprisingly little is known about their central neuronal circuitry. Utilizing a structure-function approach, this gap in our knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of these two systems will be eliminated by correlating intracellular recordings from identified neurons with their morphology as revealed by intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase. Specifically, identified preganglionic motoneurons of the Edinger-Westphal complex responsible for accommodation or pupillary constriction will be distinguished by physiological criteria and intracellularly injected allowing determination of their morphology and location. Secondly, the afferents to these two motoneuron populations will be identified using intracellular recording and staining techniques. Particular emphasis will be placed on electrophysiological and morphological determination of the synaptic relationship between the motoneurons subserving pupillary constriction and two structures: the pretectum and area 20 of visual cortex. Similarly, the synaptic relationship between the motoneurons subserving lens accommodation and two suprabulbar structures, the interpositus nucleus of the cerebellum and Clare-Bishop area of visual cortex, as well as a presumed midbrain accommodation center, will be ascertained. Third, the circuitry underlying the near reflex will be investigated utilizing the combined intracellular approach to study the connectivity between the midbrain convergence center and preganglionic motoneurons subserving both accommodation and pupillary constriction. Finally, the same techniques will be applied to determine the role of the non-motoneurons in the Edinger-Westphal complex. In conclusion, this correlative structure-function approach will provide a better understanding of the neuronal circuitry that controls lens accommodation and pupillary diameter, making greater insight into disorders of these two functions possible.