This proposal describes the continuation of the National Resource for Aplysia, whose overall goal is to provide consistently high-quality cultured sea hares Aplysia californica (and their cultured red algal food) to researchers. A. californica is an important non-vertebrate (Opisthobranch mollusk) model system for health- related research, primarily in the neurophysiology of behavior and learning. We will continue to produce animals for research and to conduct basic research aimed at exploring new model uses and at improving the resource. There are four sub-projects/specific aims: 1. Production - Sales of animals to researchers in the US and internationally is projected to continue at present levels of 25,000 to 30,000 animals per year. This resource makes available high-quality A. californica at all life stages from eggs through mature adults by rearing animals in carefully controlled laboratory conditions. All life-stages are available in sufficient quantities to meet user demand throughout the year, eliminating reliance on wild-collected animals which have limited seasonal availability and are of unknown age and health status. 2. Production research programs - The resource has been continuously improved over the past 12 years by research to optimize rearing conditions for most life stages of A. californica. The proposed research program will focus on measurement and improvement of egg quality. 3. Animal Health Monitoring - We will continue a monitoring program based on screening animal health parameters to assure rapid detection and complete documentation of any disease processes that might occur in any developmental stages of animals at the hatchery. Any disease syndromes and suspected pathogens observed will be investigated and appropriate control measures applied. 4. Developmental Neurophysiology - We will begin to develop Aplysia as an aging model by studying the changes in D-Aspartate- and other agonist-activated ionic currents that modulate sensory neuron input in the tail withdrawal reflex, using single cell voltage clamping and recording of the intact reflex. Through this combination of production and basic research, we will improve the model system and extend its usefulness to other areas of research.

Public Health Relevance

STATEMENT (provided by applicant): The California sea hare, Aplysia californica, is a large marine snail with a very simple nervous system. The National Resource for Aplysia raises and ships 25,000 to 30,000 of these animals per year to labs in the US and around the world for conducting basic research in neurobiology and behavior. This proposal would continue the production of these animals and expand their usefulness concerning studies of aging and Alzheimer's disease. D-Aspartate

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Type
Animal (Mammalian and Nonmammalian) Model, and Animal and Biological Material Resource Grants (P40)
Project #
3P40RR010294-14S2
Application #
7883767
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRR1-CM-3 (01))
Program Officer
Chang, Michael
Project Start
2009-08-20
Project End
2011-08-19
Budget Start
2009-08-20
Budget End
2011-08-19
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$729,110
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami Rosenteil School
Department
Zoology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
152764007
City
Miami
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33149
Hu, Jiangyuan; Adler, Kerry; Farah, Carole Abi et al. (2017) Cell-Specific PKM Isoforms Contribute to the Maintenance of Different Forms of Persistent Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity. J Neurosci 37:2746-2763
Hu, Jiangyuan; Ferguson, Larissa; Adler, Kerry et al. (2017) Selective Erasure of Distinct Forms of Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity Underlying Different Forms of Memory in the Same Postsynaptic Neuron. Curr Biol 27:1888-1899.e4
Jarvis, Tayler A; Capo, Thomas R; Bielmyer-Fraser, Gretchen K (2015) Dietary metal toxicity to the marine sea hare, Aplysia californica. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 174-175:54-64
Hu, Jiang-Yuan; Levine, Amir; Sung, Ying-Ju et al. (2015) cJun and CREB2 in the postsynaptic neuron contribute to persistent long-term facilitation at a behaviorally relevant synapse. J Neurosci 35:386-95
Hu, Jiangyuan; Schacher, Samuel (2015) Persistent Associative Plasticity at an Identified Synapse Underlying Classical Conditioning Becomes Labile with Short-Term Homosynaptic Activation. J Neurosci 35:16159-70
Hu, Jiang-Yuan; Schacher, Samuel (2014) Persistent long-term facilitation at an identified synapse becomes labile with activation of short-term heterosynaptic plasticity. J Neurosci 34:4776-85
Lee, Chang Young; Romanova, Elena V; Sweedler, Jonathan V (2013) Laminar stream of detergents for subcellular neurite damage in a microfluidic device: a simple tool for the study of neuroregeneration. J Neural Eng 10:036020
Ludwar, Bjoern Ch; Evans, Colin G; Cropper, Elizabeth C (2012) Monitoring changes in the intracellular calcium concentration and synaptic efficacy in the mollusc Aplysia. J Vis Exp :e3907
Albright, Rebecca; Bland, Charnelle; Gillette, Phillip et al. (2012) Juvenile growth of the tropical sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus exposed to near-future ocean acidification scenarios. J Exp Mar Bio Ecol 426-427:12-17
Romanova, Elena V; Sasaki, Kosei; Alexeeva, Vera et al. (2012) Urotensin II in invertebrates: from structure to function in Aplysia californica. PLoS One 7:e48764

Showing the most recent 10 out of 108 publications