Electrophysiological and Behavioral Assessments

新核心C的总体目标是为RMTSC研究人员提供资源，专业知识和培训，以表征其模型啮齿动物的化学感受能力和反应性。这些包括转基因和基因敲除小鼠的表型评估，以及实验诱导的味觉和嗅觉缺陷的生物体，包括药理学试剂的局部递送。之所以需要一个评估核心，是因为自上一个供资期以来，已建立的和新的RMTSC核心研究者生产和/或利用的基因靶向和转基因小鼠的数量急剧增加。此外，正在开发几条新的线路，将由多个RMTSC调查员使用。 这些模型生物体将需要功能验证，包括电生理和行为。 电生理学核心服务包括协助鼓索和舌咽味觉神经记录，以评估前后舌区的味觉功能，以及EOG记录，以评估嗅上皮和嗅神经传导的功能。行为评估设施包括设计和执行味觉和嗅觉功能行为测试的培训和专业知识。 这些服务包括协助设计和分析使用Davis Rig llckometer进行的短暂访问味道测试，长期2瓶偏好测试以及使用嗅觉计进行的嗅觉功能测试。除了为现有调查员提供服务外。核心C将帮助不具备独立执行这些评估的设备或专业知识的新调查人员。此外，拥有中央核心设施将加强RMTSC研究人员之间的合作，并将新的研究人员带入化学传感领域。该核心的目的不是为参与实验室进行所有这些研究，而是促进参与实验室获得必要专门知识的能力。

The overall goal of the new Core C is to provide resources, expertise, and training for RMTSC investigators to characterize the chemosensory capabilities and responsiveness of their model rodents. These include phenotypic assessment of transgenic and knockout mice, as well as organisms with experimentally induced taste and olfactory deficits, including localized delivery of pharmacological agents. The need for an assessment core has arisen because the numbers of gene-targeted and transgenic mice produced and/or utilized by established and new RMTSC core investigators has increased dramatically since the last funding period. Further, several new lines are being developed that will be utilized by multiple RMTSC investigators. These model organisms will require functional validation, both electrophysiological and behavioral. Electrophysiology core services include assistance with chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal taste nerve recording, to assess taste function in anterior and posterior lingual fields, and EOG recording, to assess function of the olfactory epithelium and olfactory nerve conduction. Behavioral assessment facilities include training and expertise in the design and execution of behavioral testing for both taste and olfactory function. These services include assistance with design and analysis of brief access taste tests using the Davis Rig llckometer, long-term 2-bottle preference tests, and olfactory function using the olfactometer. In addition to providing services for established investigators. Core C will aid new investigators who do not have the equipment or expertise to perform these assessments on their own. Further, having central core facilities will enhance collaborations among RMTSC investigators, and bring new investigators into the chemosensory field. It is not the intention of this core to perform all these studies for the participating laboratories, but rather to facilitate the capabilities of the participating laboratories to gain the requisite expertise.