The objectives of this research are twofold: to explain the relation of synaptic structure to synaptic strength, and to discover the developmental mechanisms that determine the relative strength of different synapses on a common postsynaptic neuron. Each of the sensory SR neurons in the crayfish abdomen, twenty neurons in all, synapse with an identified pair of target neurons in the last abdominal ganglion. The strengths of these synapses are graded in adult animals; posterior SR neurons make stronger synapses that anterior ones.
The Specific Aims of this proposal are to describe quantitatively the structural basic of these physiological differences in synaptic strength, and to discover when and by what mechanisms these gradients of synaptic strength first appear during the animal's development. The postsynaptic response (PSP) of each of the pair of the target neurons to stimulation of each SR axon will be measured, and then a selected presynaptic SR axon and both target neurons will be filled with an intracellular marker, HRP. The synaptic contacts between the SR axon and each target neuron will be counted and mapped in the light microscope, and the structure of each contact examined in the electron microscope. By comparing the structures and locations of strong synapse with those of weak synapses, we will test three hypotheses that consider both presynaptic and postsynaptic factors: --that SR axons with strong synapses make more synaptic contacts with the target than do weak synapses. --that differential postsynaptic attenuation of PSPs arising at different sites on the target neurons causes the measured differences in synaptic strength. It is not known when these gradients of synaptic strength first arise. To discover whether this occurs during embryogenesis or during postembryonic growth, SR PSPs from the same target neurons will be measured in newly hatched crayfish. --If the gradients arise during postembryonic growth, the roles of synaptic competition among SR axons, of differences in their rates of addition of new synaptic contacts, and of growth of the targets themselves during normal development will be tested.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS026742-01A1
Application #
3412731
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1989-08-01
Project End
1992-06-30
Budget Start
1989-08-01
Budget End
1990-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Davis
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
094878337
City
Davis
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
95618
Nakagawa, H; Mulloney, B (2001) Local specification of relative strengths of synapses between different abdominal stretch-receptor axons and their common target neurons. J Neurosci 21:1645-55
Mulloney, B; Hall, W M (2000) Functional organization of crayfish abdominal ganglia. III. Swimmeret motor neurons. J Comp Neurol 419:233-43
Acevedo, L D; Hall, W M; Mulloney, B (1994) Proctolin and excitation of the crayfish swimmeret system. J Comp Neurol 345:612-27
Braun, G; Mulloney, B (1994) Acetylcholinesterase activity in neurons of crayfish abdominal ganglia. J Comp Neurol 350:272-80
Murchison, D; Chrachri, A; Mulloney, B (1993) A separate local pattern-generating circuit controls the movements of each swimmeret in crayfish. J Neurophysiol 70:2620-31