Functional Visual Core (Core D)

核心D：摘要 结构和功能可视化核心的首要目标是提供最先进的 为IDDRC社区提供成像服务，包括常规和共聚焦显微镜， 动物MRI采集和分析支持。为了实现这一目标，核心已经重新设计， 为IDDRC研究人员提供全面的成像服务， 环境诱发的发育性疾病，影响神经系统发育和功能。的 IDDRC正在进行的研究跨越了基础科学家，他们使用还原论的方法来阐明 智力发育障碍（IDDs）的具体机制，以临床医生评估治疗 对患者的干预。为了满足他们所有的成像要求，我们现在提供 到三个光学显微镜核心，包括一个专用于IDDRC研究人员的显微镜套件，两个MRI 启动和完成任何成像分析所需的设施和技术支持。许多IDDRC 研究人员在他们自己的实验室里有成像系统，但他们往往不足以满足 他们的要求和从来没有全面。能够访问IDDRC支持的显微镜核心 这样既增加了能力，又提供了其他方式无法获得的技术资源，使研究人员能够 将他们的研究重新聚焦在新颖和创新的方向上。 结构和功能可视化核心的第二个关键目标是开发新的 这些技术用于可视化生物样品，并反过来将其提供给IDDRC研究人员。这里我们 专注于[1]开发用于活体成像的更小更轻的单光子微型荧光显微镜 自由活动的动物的神经活动（1-3）和[2]完善的方法，为灵活性，一个协议， 使组织透明（4，5），从而允许无与伦比的视觉敏锐度进入复杂的电路， 大脑这些技术提供了一个整体的方法，以尖端成像的承诺，允许 IDDRC研究人员将机制转化为治疗。例如，研究人员调查一个特定的 智力障碍，如Dup 15 q综合征（见模型项目），将能够对患者进行MRI， 确定受影响的区域 在啮齿动物模型中植入微型显微镜， 特定神经元群体的放电模式被疾病机械地改变， 同时使用光学显微镜结合显微镜检查推定的异常回路形成。 最后，该核心还支持所有其他核心的工作，为IDDRC研究人员提供 在从亚细胞到活体动物的任何水平上探测分子和细胞功能的能力 并确定治疗干预的后果。

CORE D: Abstract The foremost objective of the Structural and Functional Visualization Core is to provide state of the art imaging services to the IDDRC community, including both conventional and confocal microscopy, whole animal MRI acquisition and analysis support. To attain this goal, the core has been redesigned to provide comprehensive imaging services for IDDRC researchers working at on any aspect of the genetic and environmentally-induced developmental diseases affecting nervous system development and function. The research ongoing in the IDDRC spans basic scientists using reductionist approaches to elucidate the mechanisms specific to intellectual developmental disabilities (IDDs) to clinicians assessing therapeutic interventions for patients. To accommodate all of their imaging requirements, we are now providing access to three light microscopy cores, including a microscopy suite dedicated to IDDRC researchers, two MRI facilities and the technical support needed to initiate and complete any imaging analysis. Many IDDRC researchers have imaging systems within their own laboratories, however they are often insufficient to meet their demand and are never comprehensive. Being able to access the IDDRC-supported microscopy cores thus both adds capacity and provides technical resources not otherwise available, permitting researchers to refocus their studies in novel and innovative directions. A second key objective of the Structural and Functional Visualization Core is to develop new technologies for visualizing biological samples and in turn provide them to IDDRC researchers. Here, we focus on [1] developing smaller lighter one-photon miniaturized fluorescent microscopes for live imaging neural activity in freely moving animals (1-3) and [2] refining the methods for CLARITY, a protocol that renders tissue transparent (4, 5), thereby permitting unparalleled visual acuity into the complex circuitry of the brain. These techniques offer the promise of a holistic approach to cutting edge imaging, permitting IDDRC researchers to translate mechanism into therapy. For example, researchers investigating a specific intellectual disorder, such as Dup15q syndrome (see model project), will be able perform MRI on patients to identify the affected region of the brain, implant miniaturized microscopes in rodent models to perform in vivo i m a g i n g to examine how the firing patterns of specific populations of neuron are mechanistically altered by the disease, while concomitantly examining putative aberrant circuit formation using light microscopy coupled with CLARITY. Finally, this core also supports the efforts of all the other cores, offering IDDRC researchers the ability to both probe molecular and cellular function at any level from the sub-cellular to living animals and determine the consequence of therapeutic interventions.