2009年5月1日，北京生命科學(xué)研究所羅敏敏實(shí)驗(yàn)室在Neuroscience雜志上在線發(fā)表題為“Neurochemical Phenotypes of the Afferent and Efferent Projections of the Mouse Medial Habenula”的文章，該文章報(bào)道了伽馬氨基丁酸和谷氨酸在小鼠大腦內(nèi)側(cè)韁核輸入和輸出投射中的組織形式,。
內(nèi)側(cè)韁核是大腦中連接邊緣系統(tǒng)和中腦的重要結(jié)構(gòu),，也是進(jìn)化中非常保守的結(jié)構(gòu)。早期研究暗示內(nèi)側(cè)韁核參與調(diào)控應(yīng)激反應(yīng)和晝夜節(jié)律等重要行為,，但至今對(duì)內(nèi)側(cè)韁核的輸入輸出投射通路使用哪些神經(jīng)遞質(zhì)人們知之甚少,。本課題組人員以小鼠作為模式生物，通過結(jié)合遺傳學(xué)標(biāo)記,、神經(jīng)束示蹤和免疫組化等方法,，發(fā)現(xiàn)內(nèi)側(cè)隔核和斜角帶核為內(nèi)側(cè)韁核提供抑制性的伽馬氨基丁酸輸入，三角隔核為內(nèi)側(cè)韁核提供興奮性的谷氨酸輸入,；內(nèi)側(cè)韁核到角間核的輸出投射也能釋放谷氨酸,。伽馬氨基丁酸是大腦中主要的抑制性遞質(zhì)而谷氨酸是主要的興奮性遞質(zhì)。本研究揭示了這兩種重要的神經(jīng)遞質(zhì)在內(nèi)側(cè)韁核的輸入和輸出投射中的組織形式,，為將來對(duì)這條通路的功能研究提供了基礎(chǔ),。
論文的第一作者秦昶是北京生命科學(xué)研究所和協(xié)和醫(yī)科大學(xué)聯(lián)合培養(yǎng)的博士生，羅敏敏博士為本文的通訊作者,。此項(xiàng)研究由科技部863計(jì)劃,，北京市科委，中國(guó)自然科學(xué)基金及人類前沿科學(xué)計(jì)劃（HFSP）資助,，在北京生命科學(xué)研究所完成,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Neuroscience doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.03.085
Neurochemical phenotypes of the afferent and efferent projections of the mouse medial habenula
C. Qina, b and M. Luob, c, ,
aGraduate Program in Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
bNational Institute of Biological Sciences, #7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing, 102206, China
cDepartment of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
Abstract
The medial habenula (MHb) is a key bridge between limbic forebrain and midbrain monoaminergic centers. Although its exact behavioral function remains enigmatic, it is implicated in regulating many behaviors such as stress responses and circadian rhythm. Fundamental information such as the neurotransmitters in the afferent and efferent projections of the MHb remains unclear. By combining retrograde tract tracing and genetic labeling of GABAergic neurons in mice, we find that the medial septum (MS) and nucleus of diagonal band (NDB) provide GABA-ergic input to the MHb. By anterograde tracing and immunostaining against a marker of glutamatergic synapses, we find that the projection from the triangular septal nucleus (TS) to the MHb has the capacity to release glutamate. This suggests that in addition to ATP, glutamate is another neurotransmitter for the TS→MHb projection. Finally, by combining anterograde tracing and immunostaining, we find that the MHb neurons projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) have the capacity to release glutamate. This suggests that, in addition to acetylcholine and substance P, glutamate is another neurotransmitter used by MHb projection neurons. Our findings reveal the organization of two key neurotransmitters for the MHb afferent and efferent projections, and lay framework for future functional studies of this pathway in the brain.
