ShEEP Request for iNSCOPIX nVue System

大脑不再被认为是一个“黑匣子”，因为新的设备和基因- 工程生物传感器使监测大脑深处细胞的活动成为可能。 然而，大脑是由许多不同类型的细胞组成的，需要一种设备， 监测彼此相邻的不同类型细胞的活动，特别是在动物中， 从事行为。在过去的一年里，一项新的突破性技术已经问世-- 微型显微镜，重量只有2克，使之有可能监测活动的两个不同的 自由行为的啮齿动物的细胞。这个设备可以识别大脑细胞的活动模式 特定的行为，使研究人员能够构建特定大脑的大脑活动图， 调节有目的行为的回路研究人员可以确定神经退行性疾病 疾病或特定情况，如创伤性脑损伤或药物滥用， 功能 nVue微型显微镜系统使研究人员能够识别单个细胞的活动 水平以及局部水平的功能失调活动如何导致病理行为。然而，在这方面， 用于测量细胞信号传导的关键指标的必要核心仪器， 目前RHJ的个体研究者无法获得定量和成像 VAMC。本提案中要求的仪器将直接解决这一问题。 这一建议的基本假设是，在特定的细胞信号异常， 大脑回路导致病态行为需要一种装置来监测大脑的活动 电路.该设备将实现以下具体目标：i）成像大脑回路 在有目的的行为期间激活，以及ii）识别响应于 疾病、药物滥用、创伤性压力或脑损伤。通过将活动映射到本地 电路将有可能重新建立活动和恢复正常行为。

The brain is no longer considered a “black box” because new devices and genetically- engineered biosensors have made it possible to monitor activity of cells deep in the brain. However, the brain is comprised of many different types of cells, and a device is needed that monitors activity of different types of cells adjacent to each other especially in animals actively engaged in behavior. Over the last year a new breakthrough technology was made available - a miniature microscope that weighs only 2g, makes it possible to monitor activity of two different cells in freely-behaving rodents. This device identifies activity patterns of brain cells during specific behaviors, allowing investigators to construct brain activity maps of specific brain circuits regulating purposeful behavior. Researchers can determine how neurodegenerative disease or specific conditions such as traumatic brain injury or substance abuse affects circuit function. The nVue miniscope system enables investigators to identify activity at the single cell level and how dysfunctional activity at the local level can cause pathological behavior. However, the necessary core instrumentation that would serve to measure critical indices of cell signaling, quantification and imaging, are not currently available to an individual investigator at RHJ VAMC. The instrumentation requested in this proposal will directly address this issue. The underlying hypothesis of this proposal is that abnormal cell signaling in specific brain circuits leads to pathological behavior. A device is needed to monitor activity of brain circuits. This equipment will accomplish the following specific aims: i) image brain circuits activated during purposeful behavior, and ii) identify change in circuit activity in response to disease, substance abuse, and traumatic stress or brain injury. By mapping activity in local circuits it will be possible to reestablish activity and restore normal behavior.