Visually evoked synaptic activity of tectal neurons

描述(申请人提供)：在接下来的5年里，这个项目的主要目标将是分析非洲爪哇蝌蚪顶盖神经元中视觉诱发的突触活动。特别是，树突树上活跃区域的时间和空间模式将在发育过程中和突触强度诱导变化期间进行检查。为此，图案化的视觉刺激和多个顶盖细胞的膜片钳记录将与同步的多光子激光扫描钙成像相结合。膜片钳记录将提供突触反应的幅度和快速的时间动力学，双光子钙成像将揭示三维的空间模式。突触将通过对视网膜神经节细胞的直接电刺激以及呈现给视网膜的视觉图像来激活。为了诱导突触连接的改变，将使用几种电刺激和视觉刺激范例。这些实验将提供有关复杂生理输入的树突整合以及脊椎动物视觉系统中感受野发展的新信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Over the next 5 years, the main objective of this project will be to analyze visually evoked synaptic activity in tectal neurons of Xenopus tadpoles. In particular, the temporal and spatial patterns of active regions on the dendritic trees will be examined during development in general and also during periods of induced changes in synaptic strength. To this end patterned visual stimulation and multiple patch-clamp recordings of tectal cells will be combined with simultaneous multi-photon laser scanning calcium imaging. Patch clamp recordings will provide the amplitude and the fast temporal dynamics of synaptic responses and two-photon calcium imaging will reveal the spatial pattern in three dimensions. Synapses will be activated by direct electrical stimulation of retinal ganglion cells as well as by visual images presented to the retina. To induce changes in synaptic connectivity several electrical and visual stimulation paradigms will be used. These experiments will provide new information about dendritic integration of complex physiological inputs and about the development of receptive fields in the vertebrate visual system.