Electrical Synapses in the Mammalian Brain

描述(申请人提供)：电突触是一种特殊的连接，包括缝隙连接，允许离子电流和有机小分子从一个神经元传递到另一个神经元。只是在过去的几年里，电突触才变得清晰起来，这是贯穿哺乳动物中枢神经系统的神经回路的主要特征。PI的研究表明，电突触在新皮质和丘脑的抑制性神经元之间很常见，而连接蛋白36是这些连接所必需的。这项研究将描述丘脑和新皮质中电突触的功能和调节。有三个具体目标：1)将使用电生理学、解剖学和分子方法详细描述电突触在丘脑皮质系统抑制性和兴奋性神经元中的分布；2)将在丘脑和新皮质的受控条件下检验电突触可协调抑制性神经元间网络的活动以及它们所接触的兴奋性神经元的假说；3)将在丘脑和新皮质检验电突触可受神经活动、神经递质和细胞内信号系统调节的假说。这项研究将提供对电突触的特性和功能的更深入的了解，电突触是哺乳动物前脑的一个新发现的特征。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Electrical synapses are specialized connections, comprising gap junctions,that allow ionic current and small organic molecules to pass from one neuron to another. Only in the past few years has it become clear that electrical synapses are a major feature of the neuronal circuitry across the mammalian central nervous system. The PI's research has shown that electrical synapses are common between inhibitory neurons of the neocortex and thalamus, and that the protein connexin36 is necessary for these connections. This investigation will characterize the functions and the regulation of electrical synapses in the thalamus and neocortex. There are three specific aims: 1) the distribution of electrical synapses in both inhibitory and excitatory neurons of the thalamocortical system will be characterized in detail using electrophysiological, anatomical, and molecular methods; 2) the hypothesis that electrical synapses can coordinate the activity of inhibitory interneuron networks, and the excitatory neurons they contact, will be tested under controlled conditions in thalamus and neocortex; 3) the hypothesis that electrical synapses can be modulated by neural activity, neurotransmitters, and intracellular signaling systems will be tested in thalamus and neocortex. This investigation will provide a deeper understanding of the properties and functions of electrical synapses, a newly recognized feature of the mammalian forebrain.