INFLUENCE OF MELATONIN ON NEUROREGENERATION IN CRUSTACEANS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 这个试点项目的目的是建立一个监测甲壳类动物神经突起生长的模型系统，并在细胞和分子水平上研究褪黑素对这一过程的影响。褪黑素影响脊椎动物大脑中海马体等区域的轴突生长和功能，并推测褪黑素可能参与学习和预防退行性疾病。然而，褪黑素在细胞水平上的活性机制尚不清楚。甲壳类动物为神经系统的比较研究提供了强大的类似系统。在我们的研究中，我们使用甲壳类神经元作为模型系统来研究褪黑素的促生长和神经保护作用。在该项目的头两年，我们确定了可以培养的细胞类型，为轴突生长提供了一种分析方法，并开发了一种优化轴突生长的细胞培养系统。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The aims of this pilot project are to establish a model system for monitoring neurite outgrowth in crustaceans and to study the influence of melatonin at the cellular and molecular levels on this process. Melatonin affects neurite growth and function in regions of the vertebrate brain such as the hippocampus, and it is hypothesized that melatonin may be involved in learning and prevention of degenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms of melatonin activity at the cellular level are not yet known. Crustaceans provide robust analogous systems for comparative studies of the nervous system. In our study, we are using crustacean neurons as model systems for studying the growth-promoting and neuroprotective effects of melatonin. In the first two years of the project, we identified cell types that could be cultured to provide an assay for neurite growth, and we developed a cell culture system that optimizes neurite outgrowth.