投射至导水管周围灰质的视网膜神经节细胞在焦虑情绪调节中的作用和机制研究

Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses in the world, and severely affect the health and psychological well-being in human. However, the pathogenesis of this disease is still not entirely clear. It is known periaqueductal gray (PAG) could play a pivotal role in the modulation of anxiety. In our previous work, a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with morphological features of ON-OFF type cells were found to innervate the PAG in Mongolian gerbil. In this project, we will investigate the physiological properties of PAG-projecting RGCs (p-RGCs) and their function in the regulation of anxiety. Key scientific issues of this project are: 1) what the electrophysiological properties of p-RGCs are, and 2) whether light transmitted by p-RGCs could influence anxiety through regulating the activity of neurons in PAG. Through investigating the relationship between retina-PAG pathway and anxiety, this project aims to reveal the anxiety-regulating mechanisms, and provide the theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.

焦虑症是人群中最常见的精神疾病之一，严重威胁着人类健康。但其发病机制尚不明确。研究发现中脑导水管周围灰质（PAG）参与了焦虑情绪的调节过程。我们的前期工作则证实蒙古沙鼠的PAG可接受来自视网膜神经节细胞（RGCs）的直接投射，这些细胞（简称为p-RGCs）在形态学上表现出ON-OFF类型细胞的特点。在本课题中，我们将进一步对p-RGCs的生理学特征及其在调节沙鼠焦虑情绪中的作用进行研究。关键科学问题：1）p-RGCs具有怎样的电生理学对光反应特性；2）光信息能否通过p-RGCs来调节PAG内神经元的活动，进而影响焦虑情绪。本研究旨在揭示视网膜至PAG光信息传导通路与焦虑情绪的关系，加深对焦虑情绪神经调节机制的理解，并为焦虑症的诊治提供理论依据。

情绪相关疾病严重威胁着人类健康。研究发现外界光信息可调控机体的焦虑、抑郁及惊恐等情绪行为，但目前光对情绪产生调控的神经机制尚不明确。本课题旨在对外界光信息对焦虑等情绪相关行为产生调控的神经机制进行研究。本课题成果已在Nature Communications，Translation Psychiatry, IOVS等高水平学术期刊发表SCI论文5篇。主要成果如下：1）揭示了直接投射至中央导水管周围灰质的视网膜神经节细胞类型及对光反应特性；2）明确了视网膜神经节细胞调控惊恐反应的神经环路机制。发现焦虑刺激对皮层突触可塑性及机体认知功能的影响作用及机制；3）明确了外界光信息对背侧中缝核功能产生调控的神经机制。上述成果加深了领域内对光信息调控情绪相关行为功能及机制的理解，并可为临床焦虑症、自闭症等精神疾病的诊治提供理论依据。