Cholinergic and dopaminergic influence on the prefrontal cortex

胆碱能和多巴胺能对前额皮质的影响

• 批准号: 238835-2011
• 负责人: Vaucher, Elvire
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=570503
• 关键词: Cholinergic; dopaminergic; influence; prefrontal; cortex

The chief structure involved in cognitive functions and behavior is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), located in the front of our brain. Neurons of this region are in charge of receiving all the information from the sensory brain areas and memory strutures and elaborate a response by sending neuronal influxes to executive zones of the brain. Neurons communicate together thanks to neurochemicals, like dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) which play an active role in the modulation of PFC activity and cognitive function like attention and working memory. We have recently examined these neuronal system interconnectivity within the PFC. The present research program pursuits this analysis of the spatial interaction between these two neurotransmitters and the neurons from the PFC that communicate with other brain regions to organize a response to external stimulations. The number, type and location of the neurons activated by ACh or DA will be quantified by confocal microscopy. Using different drugs that suppress or excite dopamine or acetylcholine systems, we will estimate the specific contribution of these neurochemicals in the PFC neuronal activity. In a second step we will measure their concentration in the PFC during different activation conditions. These studies will allow to characterized neurons networks interaction and better understand the neurobiological mechanisms of cognition and behavior. This will help to develop pharmacological strategies to alleviate cognitive dysfunction which results in deficient thinking and withdrawal from social activity.

认知功能和行为涉及的主要结构是位于大脑前部的前额叶皮层（PFC）。该区域的神经元负责从感觉大脑区域和记忆力支柱中接收所有信息，并通过将神经元涌入发送到大脑的执行区域来详细响应。由于神经化学物质（例如多巴胺（DA）和乙酰胆碱（ACH））在PFC活性和认知功能（例如注意力和工作记忆）中起着积极作用，因此神经元共同沟通。我们最近检查了PFC中的这些神经元系统互连。本研究计划遵循对这两个神经递质与PFC神经元之间空间相互作用的分析，这些神经递质与其他大脑区域进行通信以组织对外部刺激的反应。由ACH或DA激活的神经元的数量，类型和位置将通过共聚焦显微镜进行量化。使用抑制或激发多巴胺或乙酰胆碱系统的不同药物，我们将估计这些神经化学物质在PFC神经元活性中的特定贡献。在第二步中，我们将在不同的激活条件下测量它们在PFC中的浓度。这些研究将允许表征神经元网络的相互作用，并更好地了解认知和行为的神经生物学机制。这将有助于制定药理学策略来减轻认知功能障碍，从而导致思维不足和退出社交活动。