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Universität Tübingen - Lehrstuhl Tierphysiologie |
Group leader: Dr. Thomas Wagner Ph.D.
A new project called "Cellular and molecular bases of sensorimotor processing in the caudal pontine reticular nucleus of rat" has started in January 1997. It is part of the new interdisciplinary SFB 430 project named "Cellular mechanisms of sensory processes and neuronal interactions" which was launched at the same time at the University of Tⁿbingen. Out of this funds a whole-cell patch-clamp setup is currently built. Experiments using in-situ hybridisation techniques are to be started this year. For 1998 new "Diplomarbeiten" are accepted working on topics and with methods stated below. In 1998 there is also a possibility for a dissertation project as part of the new project. More infos about that later this year.
Evaluation of cellular and synaptic properties underlying the sensorimotor integration at the giant neurons of the caudal pontine reticular formation (PnC). PnC giant neurons hold a key position in mediating and modulating the acoustic startle response, a simple but heavily modifyable behavior of mammals. The final question is: How do intrinsic cellular and synaptic properties influence mediation and modulation of behavior in mammals. How do local neuronal circuits determine the responses of inferior collicular neurons to auditory stimuli? Are there correlations between neuroanatomically defined cell-types and their physiological and pharmacological properties?
Intracellular recordings on rat brain slices of brain-stem and midbrain. Whole cell patch clamp recordings in slices of the PnC.
Intracellular staining of recorded neurons using biocytin and Lucifer yellow. Anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing in brain slices using biocytin pellets. Scheduled: Intracellular staining of neurons in fixed brain-slices using fluorescent dyes for evealuation of local neuronal circuits.
Bath superfusion of antagonists of classical neurotransmitters during electrical stimulation of synaptic inputs. Scheduled: Local superfusion of substances influencing AMPA-receptor desensitization and modulation by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs).
In-situ hybridization studies using radiolabelled oligos against flip/flop splice variants of AMPA-receptors. Single-cell PCR of electrophysiologically characterized PnC giant neurons (In conjunction with the group of P. Ruppersberg at the Hals-Nasen-Ohrenklinik of the University of Tⁿbingen).