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回路的细胞成分和排列。最近，已经建立了脊髓回路的一般组织原则。然而，由于缺乏神经元精确功能类别的标记物，以及记录大量神经元活动的技术障碍，这些回路的进一步解剖受到阻碍。 拟议的实验将测试的假设，即在转录因子启动子进化保守的元素是足够的驱动基因表达的功能定义的神经元群体。遗传学和光学方法的结合将允许识别新的神经元类型及其在完整的功能神经网络中的功能表征。总的来说，这些实验将提供一个详细的空间-时间图片脊柱系统如何协调运动。 公共卫生相关性：脊髓中的神经网络能够在没有大脑“指令”的情况下产生协调的运动。在大多数脊髓损伤的情况下，大部分脊髓保持完整，理论上能够产生运动。通过在细胞水平上对脊髓回路的理解，治疗可以有效地针对脊髓内，促进损伤后运动功能的恢复。

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.)