Available online
Description
The programme looks at a technique, based on three classical experimental techniques, which allows researchers to see whether three distant regions of the brain are connected via neurones in synap...tic contact.
The programme looks at a technique, based on three classical experimental techniques, which allows researchers to see whether three distant regions of the brain are connected via neurones in synap...tic contact.
| Module code and title: | SD286, "Biology, brain and behaviour" |
|---|---|
| Item code: | SD286; 06 |
| First transmission date: | 16-05-1981 |
| Published: | 1981 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | John Stratford |
| Contributors: | Geoff Einon; David Smith |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Brain; Neurons; Parkinson's disease |
| Footage description: | Geoff Einon introduces the programme. He discusses, briefly, the ideas of 18th and 19th century phrenologists who believed that there is a one to one relationship between specific structures of the brain and observed behaviour. Film shots of a doctor examining a patient with Parkinsons disease. Commentary by Geoff Einon explains that this disease is caused by degeneration of pathways in the brain. David Smith outlines the problems (faced by researchers who want to show that regions of the brain are connected anatomically and functionally by pathways. Smith goes on to explain that his research group combined three classical neuroanatomical techniques into one procedure to prove the above connection. He describes the first of these techniques, golgi staining with silver salts. This technique allows morphological identification of neurones. Shots of a cell section on a slide and a micrograph of a stained section. The second classical technique is now examined. This involves placing a lesion in one region of the brain and observing the degeneration of the associated nerve fibres which project into other regions. Observation is done by means of light and electron micrography. Shots of electron micrographs during the commentary. The programme now looks at the third classical technique which involves exposing nerve terminals to marker materials which are transported up the axon to the cell body. In this experiment, horse radish peroxidase is used as the marker. Animated diagrams, still graphics and a micrograph of a nerve cell help to illustrate the technique. Geoff Einon briefly summarises the three techniques discussed so far in the programme. Using still and animated graphics as well as micrographs, David Smith goes on to explain how, in general, the three techniques are combined into one Which allows neuronal pathways to be traced. Geoff Einon joins the commentary. The programme now looks at a specific application of the techniques described above, that of tracing a pathway running from the cortex through the striatum to the substantia nigra. Shots of the experiment and animations. Commentary by Paul Bolam who worked on this experiment. The experiment proved, conclusively, that there is a mono-synaptic link between the cortex and the substantia nigra which runs through the striatum. David Smith goes on to describe further work done by his group using these techniques. He discusses an experiment in which he attempts to show that the striatum can influence the thalamus via a relay in the substantia nigra. Smith explains that by putting all these results together, one can show that the striatum may influence motor activity. David Smith goes on to list, briefly, some of the other research he is doing along these lines. He relates this to the Parkinsonian patient seen at the beginning of the programme. |
| Master spool number: | HOU3594 |
| Production number: | FOUS182T |
| Videofinder number: | 2078 |
| Available to public: | no |
