NSF Org:	IOS Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
Recipient:	BOWDOIN COLLEGE
Initial Amendment Date:	June 25, 1987
Latest Amendment Date:	July 18, 1989
Award Number:	8706568
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	name not available IOS  Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	July 15, 1987
End Date:	December 31, 1990 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$135,772.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$135,772.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 1987 = $45,912.00 FY 1988 = $46,664.00 FY 1989 = $43,196.00
History of Investigator:	Patsy Dickinson (Principal Investigator) pdickins@bowdoin.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Bowdoin College 255 MAINE ST BRUNSWICK ME  US  04011-3343 (207)725-3767
Sponsor Congressional District:	01
Primary Place of Performance:	DATA NOT AVAILABLE
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	JE5WBLZJUME7
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE, CROSS-DIRECTORATE PROGRAMS
Primary Program Source:
Program Reference Code(s):	9229
Program Element Code(s):	119100, 912000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

In recent years, an enormous number of neurotransmitter and neuromodulatory substances have been identified in both vertebrate and invertebrate substances. These substances include a number of amines and an ever-increasing number of neuropeptides, the exact physiological roles of which are still unclear. However, it appears in many cases that the peptides are modulatory in nature, provoking relatively long-term alterations of ongoing neuronal activity or inducing such activity in previously quiescent preparations. Such modification and modulation of neuronal activity is common to all animals, and is essential to a wide variety of activities. Studies of the roles of neuropeptides in modulating neuronal activities will thus serve to clarify further not only the physiological roles of the many substances found in the nervous system but also the mechanisms by which neuronal modulation can occur. Perhaps the most amenable systems for the study of modulation at present are those systems in which a regularly patterned activity occurs. One such system, in which the role of peptides in modulating neuronal activity can be addressed readily, is the stomatogastric nervous system of decapod crustaceans. Questions related to the peptidergic modulation of neuronal activity, particulary rhythmically patterned activity, have already been approached from several perspectives. Considerable effort has been devoted to identifying and localizing a variety of neuropeptides in the stomatogastric system. In addition, the physiological effects of a number of neuropeptides on the stomatogastric system have been studied. Furthermore, at least one modulatory neuron has been identified, and its modulatory effects on the system have been studied. What is lacking, however, is the synthesis of these three types of experiments, the positive identification of the transmitters used by individual modulatory neurons and the effects of these neurons when fired in a physiologically relevant manner. The present study by Dr. Patsy Dickinson is designed to begin to fill this gap in our knowledge in two ways: (1) by identifying and recording from neurons containing neuropeptides, and (2) by examining modulatory neurons for the presence of these neuropeptides.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.