PROPERTIES OF LABELED SUBSTANTIA GELATINOSA NEURONS

描述(由申请人提供)：更好地了解脊髓胶状质(SG)的功能组织将有助于阐明与疼痛、瘙痒温度和某些形式的触摸相关的躯体感觉系统的正常和病理功能。要破译SG的组织结构，就必须了解SG神经元各亚型的性质和联系。这一建议提出了一种有效地靶向和研究特定亚型的标记绿色荧光蛋白的SG神经元(SG-GFP神经元)的方法。实验将比较SG-GFP神经元和不表达该标记的SG神经元的形态、膜特性和功能特征。共聚焦显微镜将被用来评估SG-GFP神经元的形态特征和联系。全细胞膜片钳技术将被用来探索这些神经元的膜特性和突触伙伴。免疫细胞化学将用于确定具有已知SG功能的分子的表达谱。这些信息将被用来发展关于SG组织中SG-GFP类型神经元的功能的概念。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A better insight into the functional organization of the substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the spinal cord would help clarify normal and pathological functions of somatosensory systems associated with pain, itch temperature, and some forms of touch. Deciphering SG organization demands understanding the properties and connections of each subtype of SG neuron. This proposal suggests an approach to efficiently target and study a particular subtype of SG neurons labeled with the green fluorescent protein (SG-GFP neurons). The experiments will compare the morphology, membrane properties, and functional features of the SG-GFP neurons with SG neurons not expressing this marker. Confocal microscopy will be used to assess the morphological features and connections of the SG-GFP neurons. Whole cell patch clamp techniques will be used to explore the membrane properties and the synaptic partners of these neurons. Immunocytochemistry will be used to determine the expression profiles of molecules with known SG functions. This information will be used to develop a concept of the function of the SG-GFP type of neurons in the SG organization.