Electrical coupling coordinates the activity of neurons that trigger reproduction

我的研究重点是大脑中的神经细胞。这些细胞使用生物电从外部世界接收信息，相互发送信号，并通过向肌肉和腺体发送输出信号来启动行为。我感兴趣的是神经细胞的电特性是如何控制的，以及当多个神经细胞共同工作时，输出是如何受到影响的。具体地说，我研究了一种被称为海螺的海螺的大脑，它有许多巨大的、可识别的神经细胞。我的关注点是一组参与启动生殖行为的神经细胞。本提案调查了这些神经细胞同步其电活动以确保及时传递触发生殖的输出的方法。电学特性由称为通道蛋白的微小空洞控制。膜通道通过离子(如钙、钠或钾)进出细胞，而细胞间通道在相互接触的细胞之间传递离子。同步的电活动是通过细胞间通道实现的。我的目的是研究这些通道是如何运作的，神经细胞中的哪些因素影响它们的功能，以及它们在塑造输出方面所起的直接作用。通过这样做，我将为研究生和本科生提供在生物电学数据收集和分析方面进行培训的机会。这样的培训为我过去的员工提供了一个平台，让他们随后在学术科学、专业学校或私营部门取得成功。这一应用提供了一个相当独特的前景，可以在一个与行为相关的系统中检查细胞之间的通信，这一系统已经被多年的先前研究很好地定义了。一般来说，许多生物体的关键行为，如饮水、饮食和生殖的各个方面，都是由神经细胞组的集体和协调输出引起或影响的。因此，我对海兔的研究也将影响对动物生物学和大脑功能的理解。

My research centres on nerve cells from brain. These cells use bio-electricity to receive information from the outside world, signal each other, and initiate behaviours by sending output signals to muscles and glands. I am interested in how the electrical properties of nerve cells are controlled, as well as how output is influenced when multiple nerve cells work together. Specifically, I study the brain of a sea snail, known as Aplysia californica, which has many large and identifiable nerve cells. My focus is a group of nerve cells involved in initiating reproductive behaviour. The present proposal investigates the means by which these nerve cells synchronize their electrical activity to ensure timely delivery of the output that triggers reproduction. Electrical properties are governed by minute holes called channel proteins. Membrane channels pass ions (such as calcium, sodium, or potassium) in and out of the cell, while cell-to-cell channels pass ions between cells that are in contact with one another. Synchronized electrical activity is achieved through cell-to-cell channels. My aim is to examine how these channels operate, what factors in the nerve cell influence their function, and the direct role they play in shaping output. In doing so, I will provide opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to train in the collection and analysis of bio-electrical data. Such training has served as a platform for my past personnel to subsequently succeed in academic science, professional school, or the private sector. This application offers the rather unique prospect of examining cell-to-cell communication in a behaviourally-relevant system that is well-defined by numerous years of prior research. In general, the key behaviours of many organisms, such as drinking, eating, and various aspects of reproduction, are caused or impacted by a collective and co-ordinated output from nerve cell groups. Thus, my work on Aplysia will also impact the understanding of animal biology and brain function.