SYNAPTIC MECHANISMS IN THE VERTEBRATE RETINA

我们的研究旨在分析神经递质的作用。 脊椎动物特定突触部位的受体和离子通道 视网膜。细胞内电生理学与药物联合应用 应用和单细胞染色程序，将被用于研究 视网膜回路。谷氨酸和GABA受体的生理作用 视网膜远端的甘氨酸受体和近端的甘氨酸受体 探索过了。实验将致力于证明这种受体 亚型调节视网膜中特定的视觉通路。具体的 目的是：1)区分和描述谷氨酸受体的功能 双极细胞和水平细胞，2)谷氨酸受体亚型与 特殊离子电导，3)评估GABA受体在 调解水平单元反馈，4)描述光驱动的效果 细胞外钾浓度对水平细胞的调节作用 偶联，以及5)表征甘氨酸受体，并确定其他 内源性氨基酸通常激活这些受体。从长远来看 这项研究的目的是使用药理学技术作为一种 提供视网膜突触生理学描述的工具。 这些信息可以提供一种分析视觉效果的方法 用于信息处理和定位病理生理学部位， 尤其是当它与视网膜疾病有关时。

Our research is directed at analysing the role of neurotransmitter receptors and ionic channels at particular synaptic sites in the vertebrate retina. Intracellular electrophysiology, in combination with drug application and single cell staining procedures, will be utilized to study retinal circuitry. The physiological roles of glutamate and GABA receptors in the distal retina and glycine receptors in the proximal retina will be explored. Experiments will be directed at demonstrating that receptor subtypes mediate particular visual pathways in the retina. The specific aims are to 1) distinguish and characterize the glutamate receptors on OFF bipolar and horizontal cells, 2) correlate glutamate receptor subtypes with particular ionic conductances, 3) evaluate the role of GABA receptors in mediating horizontal cell feedback, 4) describe the effects of light driven modulation of extracellular potassium concentrations on horizontal cell coupling, and 5) characterize glycine receptors and determine if other endogenous amino acids normally activate these receptors. The long term objective of this research is to employ pharmacological techniques as a tool to provide a description of the synaptic physiology of the retina. This information could provide a methodology for analysing visual information processing and for localizing sites of pathophysiology, particularly as it relates to retinal disease.