Spatial-Temporal Organization and Function of Spinal Locomotor Networks

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案中描述的实验将研究脊髓中运动模式产生电路的细胞成分和排列。最近，脊髓回路的一般组织原则已经确立。然而，由于缺乏神经元精确功能类别的标记，以及在记录大量神经元活动方面的技术障碍，阻碍了对这些电路的进一步解剖。拟议的实验将验证转录因子启动子中进化上保守的元件足以驱动功能定义的神经元群体中的基因表达的假设。遗传和光学方法的结合将允许在一个完整的、功能正常的神经网络中识别新的神经元类型及其功能特征。总的来说，这些实验将提供一个详细的时空图像，脊柱系统如何协调运动。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Experiments described in this proposal will investigate the cellular constituents and arrangement of motor pattern generating circuits in the spinal cord. Recently, general organizing principles have been established for spinal circuitry. However, further dissection of these circuits is hampered by a lack of markers for precise functional classes of neurons, and technological obstacles in recording the activity of large numbers of neurons. Proposed experiments will test the hypothesis that evolutionarily conserved elements in transcription factor promoters are sufficient drive gene expression in functionally defined neuronal populations. A combination of genetic and optical approaches will allow the identification of novel neuron types and their functional characterization in an intact, functioning neural network. Overall, these experiments will provide a detailed spatial-temporal picture of how spinal systems coordinate movements. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Neural networks in the spinal cord are capable of generating coordinated movements without "instructions" from the brain. In most instances of spinal cord injury, much of the spinal cord remains intact, and theoretically able to generate movements. With an understanding of spinal circuits at the cellular level, therapies may be effectively targeted within the spinal cord, facilitating recovery of motor function after injury.)