CHOLINERGIC MODULATION OF RETINAL GANGLION CELLS

描述(改编自调查人员摘要)：长期 目的是表征细胞的形态和生化多样性 视网膜神经节细胞(RGC)，并确定中枢 每种类型的神经节细胞的投射。约20%的 视网膜节细胞合成烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(NAChRs)和转运 把它们送到轴突终末。现建议研究这些研资局 并检测这些转运受体的功能。 直接的具体目标包括：(1)描述这些RGC的特征 含有nAChRs，包括形态、神经递质受体计数 以及它们的中心投影；(2)确定 可能作用于这些RGC轴突终末的胆碱能传入；(3) 确定含ACh的树突和/或轴突是否形成突触 视网膜轴突；(4)确定神经节细胞轴突nAChRs在 顶盖是有功能的，胆碱能激动剂是否改变特性 视网膜轴突终末；(5)确定视网膜轴突终末的时间模式 含轴突的nAChRs在顶盖和腹侧的神经支配 在发育过程中发生膝曲；以及(6)确定何时发生 视网膜节细胞的个体发育nAChRs开始发挥功能。这些研究将有助于 测定尼古丁在视网膜和视网膜的视觉功能中的作用 胚胎发育过程中的大脑和视网膜节细胞对损伤的反应。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from investigator's abstract): The long term objective is to characterize the morphological and biochemical diversity of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and to determine the central projections of individual types of ganglion cells. About 20 percent of RGCs synthesize nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and transport them to their axon terminals. It is proposed to study these RGC populations and examine the function of these transported receptors. The immediate specific aims include: (1) to characterize these RGCs containing nAChRs, including morphology, neurotransmitter receptor counts and their central projections; (2) to identify the source of cholinergic inputs that may act upon these RGC axonal terminals; (3) to determine if ACh-containing dendrites and/or axons form synapses upon retinal axons; (4) to determine if ganglion cell axonal nAChRs in tectum are functional and whether cholinergic agonists modify properties of retinal axonal terminals; (5) to determine the temporal pattern of innervation of axon-containing nAChRs into the tectum and ventral geniculate during development; and (6) to determine when during ontogeny nAChRs in RGCs become functional. These studies will help in determining the role of nicotine in visual function in the retina and the brain during embryogenesis and responses of RGCs to injury.