Characterizing the functional heterogeneity of the mouse paralaminar nucleus

项目摘要/摘要 杏仁核的发育包括青春期大小和细胞数量的增加，这是 认为在成年前使情感和社会行为成熟的。这一过程中的扰动 与神经精神障碍和行为病理学有关；但细胞成分 青春期杏仁核发育尚不清楚。在人类，杏仁核板旁核(PL) 含有大量未成熟的兴奋性神经元，可将其成熟推迟到青春期。《公共图书馆》 可能是青春期杏仁核发育的主要贡献者，但 该地区还有待调查。我们最近的工作证明了直系种群的存在。 小鼠杏仁核，打开一个易于处理的模型系统，对PL进行详细研究。我最初的电生理学 实验表明，成年小鼠PL内存在可能的生理亚群。基于过去的灵长类研究 而Allen鼠的脑连接图谱、成年PL的输入和输出也可能显示出多样性。 这项建议的目的是通过将内在电和电分类来定义成人PL的功能同一性 形态神经元亚型，解剖它们的突触输入模式，并绘制它们的输出。这个 建议进行病毒追踪、光片显微镜、全细胞膜片钳、 光遗传学和形态重建将有助于探索细胞的功能表型 小鼠PL神经元。这些拟议的研究对于理解PL在杏仁核功能中的作用至关重要 和行为，以及可能参与神经精神障碍。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The development of the amygdala includes an increase in size and cell number during adolescence, which is thought to confer maturation of emotional and social behaviors before adulthood. Perturbations in this process are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and behavioral pathology; yet the cellular components of adolescent amygdala development are unknown. In humans, the paralaminar nucleus of the amygdala (PL) contains a large population of immature excitatory neurons that delay their maturation until adolescence. The PL may be a major contributor to adolescent amygdala development, but the physiology and connectivity of the region is yet to be investigated. Our recent work has shown the existence of an orthologous population in the mouse amygdala, opening a tractable model system to study the PL in detail. My initial electrophysiology experiments indicate putative physiological subgroups within the adult mouse PL. Based on past primate studies and the Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity atlas, inputs to and outputs from the adult PL may also show diversity. The goal of this proposal is to define the functional identity of the adult PL by classifying intrinsic electrical and morphological neuronal subtypes, dissecting their synaptic input patterns, and mapping their outputs. The training proposed in the advanced techniques of viral tracing, light sheet microscopy, whole-cell patch clamp, optogenetics, and morphological reconstruction will facilitate the exploration into the functional phenotypes of mouse PL neurons. These proposed studies are crucial to understanding the role of the PL in amygdala function and behavior, as well possible involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders.