Confocal Imaging for Neuropsychiatric Research

描述(由申请人提供)：麦克莱恩医院的邮递员研究中心(MRC)是我们对神经精神障碍的原因和治疗进行翻译研究的关键组成部分。MRC成像设备必须用最先进的仪器取代我们过时的徕卡共焦显微镜。这将增强我们在调节涉及情绪和认知的复杂神经回路的神经元亚群内对细胞和分子机制进行共同定位研究的能力。MRC正在进行的工作重点是皮质边缘回路，据信在患有严重精神病、情绪和焦虑障碍、创伤后应激、发育障碍和神经退行性疾病的患者中存在功能障碍。本提案描述了徕卡TCS SP5共焦显微镜的必要性。该仪器将为MRC调查人员提供广泛的成像能力。我们目前拥有JEOL 1200EX电子显微镜和徕卡共焦显微镜；这两台显微镜都是通过两个独立的NIH共享仪器赠款获得的资金购买的。1985年，当EM获得时，我们成立了一个用户委员会，从那时起，该委员会一直是成像设施的管理机构。如果申请成功，我们的用户委员会将协调新的共焦显微镜的使用和维护。自1985年以来，一项支持我们的成像设施的财务计划已经到位，并将进行修订，以涵盖新的仪器。从历史上看，麦克莱恩医院为这一设施提供了额外的支持，并将继续这样做。拟议设备的采购将确保麦克莱恩医院的医疗研究中心能够保持神经精神障碍研究的“尖端”研究计划。 公共卫生相关性：麦克莱恩医院有一个多学科研究计划，旨在研究精神病、情绪和焦虑症、创伤后应激、发育障碍和神经退行性疾病。这一计划的生产力取决于最先进的成像技术的可用性，以可视化神经元电路的结构和功能。这项提议描述了我们需要一种新的复杂的共焦成像仪器，它将使我们能够在精神神经科学的“尖端”发挥作用，从而有可能开发出治疗神经精神疾病的创新方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Mailman Research Center (MRC) at McLean Hospital is a critical component to our translational studies of the causes and treatments of neuropsychiatric disorders. The MRC Imaging Facility must replace our outmoded Leica confocal microscope with a state-of-the-art instrument. This will enhance our ability to perform co- localization studies of cellular and molecular mechanisms within neuronal subpopulations that regulate complex neural circuits involved in emotion and cognition. Ongoing work in the MRC focuses on corticolimbic circuits believed to be dysfunctional in patients with major psychoses, mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress, development disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. This proposal describes the need for a Leica TCS SP5 confocal microscope. This instrument will provide MRC investigators with a broad array of imaging capabilities. We currently have JEOL 1200EX electron microscope and a Leica confocal microscope; both were purchased with funds awarded through two separate NIH Shared Instrumentation Grants. In 1985, when the EM was procured, we established a Users Committee and this has served as a governing body for the Imaging Facility since that time. If this application is successful, our Users Committee will coordinate the use and maintenance of the new confocal microscope. Since 1985, a financial plan for the support of our Imaging Facility has been in place and will be amended to cover the new instrumentation. Historically, McLean Hospital has provided additional support for this facility and will continue to do so. The procurement of the proposed equipment will ensure that the MRC at McLean Hospital will be able to maintain a "cutting edge" research program for the study of neuropsychiatric disorders. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: McLean Hospital has a multidisciplinary research program directed at the study of psychosis, mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress, development disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The productivity of this program is dependent upon the availability of state-of-the-art imaging technology for visualizing neuronal circuitry both structurally and functionally. This proposal describes our need for a new sophisticated confocal imaging instrument that will allow us to function at the "cutting edge" of psychiatric neuroscience where it will be possible to develop innovative new approaches to the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.