Neurophotometry system: a cost-efficient, versatile tool for behavioural circuits analyses

这项申请要求获得资金，以便能够在纪念大学心理学系安装体内神经光度测量工作站系统。这一集成系统将由一个光纤光度核心设备和一个附加的光遗传学附件组成。该系统是神经生理学和行为回路分析方面的前沿发展。它允许实时、高分辨率、在体监测不同神经元隔室-细胞体、树突和轴突-以及沿着离散的路径和电路的电活动。光遗传学组件允许对遗传上不同的细胞类型进行可控的刺激或抑制，而光纤光度法使从钙指示剂的发射波长检测钙信号成为可能，作为神经细胞活动的量化测量。该系统比标准的电生理技术有很大的优势，因为它允许识别和操作遗传上不同的神经元亚型和相关的神经通路和电路。它还具有性价比高、便携和操作简单的特点。所要求的系统将被用作我的实验室(申请者：Francis R.Bambio博士)的核心研究模块，以支持我正在进行的NSERC DG资助的应激神经生物学研究计划，该计划的主要目标是在啮齿动物模型中识别沿前额皮质-5-羟色胺能中缝回路的分子底物，这些分子底物介导应激可控和可预测机制。该系统还将丰富该系神经科学系(其他六名成员用户：Darlene Skinner博士、Jaqueline Blundell博士、Christina Thorpe博士、Ashlyn Swift-Gallant博士、Susan Wling博士和Ian Webb博士)以及其他系神经科学研究人员(生物化学Mark Berry博士、齐源博士和Matthew Parsons博士)的研究项目。除了加强我们的研究计划和培训HQP(研究生和本科生荣誉项目)外，所需的设备将用于我们在神经科学技术、研究经验、定向研究和SURA/USRA相关活动方面的本科和研究生课程的常规教学和指导。

This applications requests for funds to be able to install an in vivo neurophotometry workstation system at the Psychology Department of Memorial University. This integrated system will consist of a fiber photometry core equipment and an additional optogenetics add-on. The system is a cutting-edge development in neurophysiology and behavioural circuits analyses. It allows for the real-time, high-resolution, in vivo monitoring of electrical activity on different neuronal compartments – cell body, dendrites and axons – and along discrete pathways and circuits. The optogenetics component allows for the controlled stimulation or inhibition of genetically distinct cell types, whereas fiber photometry makes it possible to detect calcium signals from emission wavelengths of calcium indicators as quantified measures of neural cell activity. This system has a great advantage over standard electrophysiological techniques because it allows for the identification and manipulation of genetically distinct neuronal subtypes and associated neural pathways and circuits. It is also cost-effective, portable and simple to operate. The requested system will be used as the centerpiece research module in my laboratory (applicant: Dr. Francis R. Bambico) to support my on-going NSERC DG-funded research program in stress neurobiology, for which the main goal is to identify the molecular substrates along the prefrontocortical - serotonergic raphe circuit that mediate stress controllability and predictability mechanisms, in a rodent model. The system will also enrich the NSERC-funded research programs of the Neuroscience faculty of the department (six other member users: Drs. Darlene Skinner, Dr. Jaqueline Blundell, Dr. Christina Thorpe, Dr. Ashlyn Swift-Gallant, Dr. Susan Walling and Dr. Ian Webb), as well as projects of other Neuroscience investigators in other departments (Dr. Mark Berry, biochemistry; Dr. Qi Yuan and Dr. Matthew Parsons, Faculty of Medicine). In addition to strengthening our research programs and for the training of HQP (graduate students and undergraduate honours projects), the requested equipment will be in routine use for teaching and instruction for our undergraduate and graduate curricular courses in neuroscience techniques, research experience, directed studies and SURA/USRA-associated activities.**