The long range goal of this research is to gain insight into mechanisms underlying the modulation of synaptic transmission. It is now clear that many neurons contain more than one transmitter and it will be important to determine how multiple transmitters released from the terminals of single neurons interact on post- synaptic targets. Specifically, neuropeptides appear to commonly coexist along with conventional transmitters. The relatively simple nervous system of Aplysia has a number of advantages that make it particularly useful as a model system for these studies.
One specific aim of this grant is to explore the hypothesis that neuropeptides which are present in motor neurons are released during stimulation to modulate the effectiveness of conventional excitatory transmitters such as acetylcholine released from the neuron. These neuropeptides have been shown to be potent modulators of neuromuscular transmission at these muscles. This will permit an evaluation of the role of corelease in food induced arousal, and extensively studied and well understood behavior in this animal. The characteristics of release of acetylcholine and these peptides will also be determined for identified neurons in primary culture. A second specific aim is to determine the physiological roles of a newly identified modulatory peptide that appears to be one of the major peptide transmitter in this animal. Understanding fundamental neural processes such as modulation of synaptic transmission at neuromuscular synapses could have relevance to disorders of movement as well as more general disorders of affect and cognition.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01NS023569-04
Application #
3407235
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1986-04-01
Project End
1992-03-31
Budget Start
1989-04-01
Budget End
1990-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
225410919
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Church, P J; Whim, M D; Lloyd, P E (1993) Modulation of neuromuscular transmission by conventional and peptide transmitters released from excitatory and inhibitory motor neurons in Aplysia. J Neurosci 13:2790-800
Church, P J; Lloyd, P E (1991) Expression of diverse neuropeptide cotransmitters by identified motor neurons in Aplysia. J Neurosci 11:618-25
Hall, J D; Lloyd, P E (1991) Release of pedal peptide from Aplysia neurons in primary culture. J Neurobiol 22:583-9
Hall, J D; Lloyd, P E (1990) Involvement of pedal peptide in locomotion in Aplysia: modulation of foot muscle contractions. J Neurobiol 21:858-68
Pearson, W L; Lloyd, P E (1990) Distribution and characterization of pedal peptide immunoreactivity in Aplysia. J Neurobiol 21:883-92
Lotshaw, D P; Lloyd, P E (1990) Peptidergic and serotonergic facilitation of a neuromuscular synapse in Aplysia. Brain Res 526:81-94
Lloyd, P E (1989) Interganglionic axonal transport of neuropeptides in Aplysia. J Neurosci 9:3243-9
Whim, M D; Lloyd, P E (1989) Frequency-dependent release of peptide cotransmitters from identified cholinergic motor neurons in Aplysia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 86:9034-8
Glanzman, D L; Mackey, S L; Hawkins, R D et al. (1989) Depletion of serotonin in the nervous system of Aplysia reduces the behavioral enhancement of gill withdrawal as well as the heterosynaptic facilitation produced by tail shock. J Neurosci 9:4200-13
Pearson, W L; Lloyd, P E (1989) Immunocytological localization of pedal peptide in the central nervous system and periphery of Aplysia. J Neurosci 9:318-25

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