The hibernator as a model system for neural plasticity

描述（由申请人提供）：可塑性是神经元响应刺激改变其结构和功能的能力。形态可塑性，如树突状分支，似乎是最突出的年轻生物体，与学习和大脑发育的最激烈的时期。冬眠的动物可能是这条规则的一个戏剧性的例外。一些研究表明，结构和突触的可塑性都发生在成年冬眠动物的程度没有揭示任何其他系统。确认这些现象和了解这个系统的基本动力学可以证明冬眠是一个信息模型系统的可塑性研究问题，包括其在成年哺乳动物的监管机制。 我们打算开发一种冬眠动物，金背地松鼠，作为研究成年哺乳动物结构和突触可塑性的模型系统。关于这个系统的几个基本问题将得到解决。首先，冬眠相关的可塑性在多大程度上体现在整个大脑中，冬眠期间电活动的区域差异是否影响可塑性？在整个冬眠期，这些变化的时间进程是怎样的？最后，这种现象是否取决于大脑温度？该提案将使用细胞内荧光黄注射和突触标记免疫荧光来解决所有三个问题。 研究成年期的神经可塑性对医学有着深远的影响。成人神经可塑性机制的发现有可能推动目前神经退行性疾病（如阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病）以及急性创伤和缺血性损伤的治疗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Plasticity is the ability of neurons to change their structure and function in response to stimuli. Morphological plasticity, such as dendritic arborization, appears to be most prominent in young organisms, correlating with the most intense period of learning and brain development. Hibernating animals may be a dramatic exception to this rule. A few studies suggest that both structural and synaptic plasticity are taking place in the adult hibernator to an extent not revealed by any other system. Confirmation of these phenomena and understanding of basic dynamics of this system could prove the hibernator to be an informative model system for studying questions of plasticity, including mechanisms for its regulation in adult mammals. We intend to develop a hibernator, the golden-mantled ground squirrel, as a model system for studying structural and synaptic plasticity in an adult mammal. Several fundamental questions about this system will be addressed. First, to what degree is hibernation-related plasticity demonstrated throughout the brain, and do regional differences in electrical activity during hibernation influence plasticity? What is the time course for these changes throughout the hibernation bout? And last, is this phenomenon dependent upon brain temperature? This proposal will address all three questions using intracellular Lucifer Yellow injections and synaptic marker immunofluorescence. Studying neural plasticity in adulthood has far-reaching consequences for medicine. The discovery of mechanisms underlying adult neural plasticity has the potential to progress current treatments of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and acute traumatic and ischemic insults.