前庭核和终纹床核的结构和功能联系及其与眩晕-焦虑反应的相关性

The comorbidity of peripheral vertigo and anxiety disorder is very common in the clinical practice, vestibular dysfunction has interaction and influence with anxiety. Recent studies show that bed nucleus of the stria terminalis is one of the most important nuclear mediated anxiety, it is related closely with the structure and function of several brain regions. However, the neural pathway and interaction mechanism between bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and vestibular nucleus is still lack of related research. In this study we applies the optogenetics technology, specific light stimulate respectively vestibular nucleus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in vestibular dysfunction animal model, observe the neural pathway between vestibular nucleus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; Then we observe the change of anxiety and balance through anxiety behavior and balance function tests to make clear the correlation between bed nucleus of the stria terminalis-vestibular nucleus and vertigo - anxiety reaction; Finally, we detect monoamine neurotransmitter of bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and vestibular nucleus in vestibular dysfunction animal model through carbon fiber micro electrode technology. This study we will explore the structure and function relationship of bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and vestibular nucleus through optogenetics, electrophysiological, immunohistochemical and behavior methods, to make clear the mechanism of comorbidity of vertigo and anxiety and provide theoretical basis for its comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.

外周性眩晕常与焦虑等情绪障碍共病，前庭功能障碍和焦虑情绪之间相互作用并相互影响 。近年研究表明终纹床核是介导焦虑情绪的最重要核团之一，它与多个脑部区域有密切的结构 和功能联系。然而，终纹床核和前庭核之间是否存在神经通路及相互间作用机制仍缺乏相关研 究。本研究应用光遗传学技术，对外周前庭功能损伤动物模型的前庭核和终纹床核分别进行特 异性光刺激，观察前庭核与终纹床核之间的神经通路联系；然后通过焦虑行为学和平衡功能检 测观察实验动物的焦虑水平和平衡能力变化以明确前庭核-终纹床核与眩晕-焦虑反应的相关性 ；最后通过碳纤维微电极技术实时检测前庭损伤动物终纹床核和前庭核单胺类递质的变化规律 及相互联系。本研究将通过光遗传学、电生理学、免疫组化和行为学等手段探索前庭核和终纹 床核之间的结构和功能联系，明确眩晕和焦虑共病的机制，为其综合性诊治提供理论依据。

背景：外周性眩晕常与焦虑等情绪障碍共病，焦虑已经成为困扰众多眩晕患者的严重问题。前庭核(vestibular nucleus,VN)是外周性眩晕的中枢受累区，中缝背核(dorsal raphe nucleus,DRN)以及蓝斑核(locus coeruleus,LC),臂旁核(parabrachial nucleus,PN)均为介导焦虑情绪的最重要核团，但是前庭核与焦虑相关核团之间的相互联系并不明确。.主要内容：1.解剖学：说明前庭核中谷氨酸神经元与焦虑相关核团的相互投射关系。2.功能学：研究前庭损伤小鼠焦虑水平及平衡功能的变化；探索小鼠蓝斑核去甲肾上腺能 （LC-NE）神经元激活后焦虑水平及平衡功能的变化；探索蓝斑核去甲肾上腺素能系统在调控外周眩晕小鼠焦虑及平衡功能中的作用。.重要结果及关键数据：1.前庭核谷氨酸神经元与焦虑相关核团的密切联系主要集中在控制焦虑情绪的中缝背核以及蓝斑核,臂旁核也与前庭核存在少量的解剖学联系。2. 前庭损伤产生的前庭症状将导致小鼠焦虑水平上升，平衡功能下降。激活正常小鼠蓝斑核中的去甲肾上腺素能神经元也可导致其焦虑水平上升，平衡功能下降，说明了LC-NE神经元在调控焦虑情绪方面的作用。激活前庭损伤小鼠LC-NE神经元可导致小鼠焦虑水平进一步上升，平衡功能更加减退，明确了LC-NE系统在调控前庭损伤引起的焦虑情绪方面的作用。.科学意义：通过前庭核与焦虑相关核团的解剖学及功能学联系解释前庭损伤时的机体焦虑共病现象，为其综合性诊治提供理论依据。