FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF VISUAL SYSTEMS

该项目试图了解更多关于视网膜突触的信息， 机制等 特别是，我们正在寻求发现什么物质是 在特定的突触连接处使用，以及这些物质的作用 视网膜细胞上。现在人们普遍认为，有两种基本类型的 物质在大脑突触处释放;神经递质， 在神经细胞中引发快速兴奋和抑制反应，和 神经调节剂介导神经细胞中缓慢、持久的事件。 该项目今后五年的重点是采取行动， 谷氨酸，一种经典的神经递质，和多巴胺之间的相互作用， 一种经典的神经调质，作用于双极、无长突和神经节细胞， 鱼（白色鲈鱼视网膜）。我们还将学习药理学， 新发现的GABA受体/通道GABA-c的分子生物学 受体，来自白色鲈鱼或杂交鲈鱼视网膜。 最后，记录 将由斑马鱼的锥状感光器制成， 在光谱的紫外线区域。 未来五年计划的具体项目包括： 1)视网膜双极细胞、无长突细胞和巨噬细胞氨基酸门控通道的研究 神经节细胞和多巴胺及其他神经活性物质对它们的调节 物质. 该项目最初集中在谷氨酸介导的 双极细胞的反应。 视网膜切片中的双极细胞是电压- 用贴片电极夹持并表征谷氨酸反应。 2)的药理和分子生物学性质研究 视网膜水平细胞和非洲爪蟾卵母细胞中的GABA-c受体。 这 该项目将研究GABA的构象，最好地激活这些 新型受体该项目的这一部分将采用构象- 限制性GABA类似物和分离的杆（H4）水平细胞， 白色鲈鱼或杂交鲈鱼视网膜。其他研究将涉及表达 在非洲爪蟾卵母细胞中， 新型受体 3)紫外光敏感膜响应特性的研究 光感受器该项目将探索紫外线的响应特性- 从斑马鱼身上分离出来的敏感视锥细胞吸引电极将 记录下这些光感受器产生的电流。

This project is attempting to learn more about retinal synaptic mechanisms. In particular, we are seeking to discover what substances are used at specific synaptic junctions and what effects these substances have on retinal cells. It is now generally believed that two basic types of substances are released at brain synapses; neurotransmitters which initiate fast excitatory and inhibitory responses in neural cells, and neuromodulators which mediate slow, long lasting events in nerve cells. The next five years of this project will focus on the action of, and interaction between, glutamate, a classic neurotransmitter,and dopamine, a classic neuromodulator, on bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells of the fish (white perch retina). We also will study the pharmacology and molecular biology of a newly identified GABA receptor/channel, the GABA-c receptor, from white perch or hybrid bass retinas. Finally, recordings will be made from cone photoreceptors of zebrafish that absorb maximally in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. Specific projects planned for the next five years include: 1) A study of amino acid-gated channels in retinal bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells and their modulation by dopamine and other neuroactive substances. This project is focusing initially on the glutamate-mediated responses of bipolar cells. Bipolar cells in retinal slices are voltage- clamped with patch electrodes and the glutamate responses characterized. 2) A study of the pharmacological and molecular biological properties of GABA-c receptors in retinal horizontal cells and in Xenopus oocytes. This project will examine the conformation of GABA that best activates these novel receptors. This part of the project will employ conformationally- restricted GABA analogues and isolated rod (H4) horizontal cells from the white perch or hybrid bass retinas. Other studies will involve expressing in Xenopus oocytes the gene(s) encoding the subunits that make up these novel receptors. 3) An investigation of the response properties of ultraviolet-sensitive photoreceptors. This project will explore the response properties of UV- sensitive cones isolated from the zebrafish. Suction electrodes will record the currents generated by these photoreceptors.