Discrete neural networks, within the central nervous system (CNS) of both vertebrates and invertebrates, are responsible for generating the patterned neural activity that mediates rhythmic behaviors. A long-term goal of this proposal is to understand the cellular mechanisms and functional consequences underlying the modulation of these networks by inputs from within the CNS. A related goal is to understand, at the cellular level, how modulation by these inputs is regulated by presynaptic influences. This proposal focuses on modulation of the pyloric and gastric mill neural networks, located in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of the crab, Cancer borealis. Electrophysiological techniques, based on combining intra-somatic recordings of STG network neurons with intra-axonal recordings of modulatory inputs entering the STG, will be used to attain the following goals. (1) Characterize how individual axons influence these networks, identify the axon's transmitter by combining intra-axonal dye filling and immunocytochemistry, and then determine whether the way these networks respond to axon stimulation is well-mimicked by exogenous application of it's transmitter. (2) Study local influences on these axons, and whether there are distinct membrane properties or synaptic effects of these axons, within the STG. Then determine how each one shapes the way these axons modulate pyloric and gastric mill network activity. (3) Identify the activity and outputs of these axons elsewhere in this nervous system, to determine whether a neuron can simultaneously use different impulse patterns to influence different neural networks. The results of these experiments will provide a new level of understanding, previously unobtainable, about how individual neurons use modulatory transmitters to influence rhythmically active neural networks, and how this influence is locally regulated near the terminals of the input. This will help guide conceptual understanding and experimental approaches in the similar but less accessible, vertebrate systems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS029436-02
Application #
3416255
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 2 (NEUB)
Project Start
1991-05-01
Project End
1995-04-30
Budget Start
1992-05-01
Budget End
1993-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
004514360
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
DeLaney, Kellen; Sauer, Christopher S; Vu, Nhu Q et al. (2018) Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry for Single Cell ""Omics"". Molecules 24:
DeLaney, Kellen; Buchberger, Amanda R; Atkinson, Louise et al. (2018) New techniques, applications and perspectives in neuropeptide research. J Exp Biol 221:
Zhang, Yuzhuo; DeLaney, Kellen; Hui, Limei et al. (2018) A Multifaceted Mass Spectrometric Method to Probe Feeding Related Neuropeptide Changes in Callinectes sapidus and Carcinus maenas. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 29:948-960
White, Rachel S; Spencer, Robert M; Nusbaum, Michael P et al. (2017) State-dependent sensorimotor gating in a rhythmic motor system. J Neurophysiol 118:2806-2818
Nusbaum, Michael P; Blitz, Dawn M; Marder, Eve (2017) Functional consequences of neuropeptide and small-molecule co-transmission. Nat Rev Neurosci 18:389-403
Marder, Eve; Gutierrez, Gabrielle J; Nusbaum, Michael P (2017) Complicating connectomes: Electrical coupling creates parallel pathways and degenerate circuit mechanisms. Dev Neurobiol 77:597-609
Kintos, Nickolas; Nusbaum, Michael P; Nadim, Farzan (2016) Convergent neuromodulation onto a network neuron can have divergent effects at the network level. J Comput Neurosci 40:113-35
Nusbaum, Michael P; Blitz, Dawn M (2012) Neuropeptide modulation of microcircuits. Curr Opin Neurobiol 22:592-601
Hui, Limei; Zhang, Yuzhuo; Wang, Junhua et al. (2011) Discovery and functional study of a novel crustacean tachykinin neuropeptide. ACS Chem Neurosci 2:711-722
Blitz, Dawn M; Nusbaum, Michael P (2011) Neural circuit flexibility in a small sensorimotor system. Curr Opin Neurobiol 21:544-52

Showing the most recent 10 out of 38 publications