MORPHOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL SPECIFICITY OF GANGLION CELLS

我们的长期目标是表征形态和 视网膜神经节细胞（RGCS）的生物化学多样性，并确定 神经节细胞的中央突起。 RGC不仅在形态和中央投射上不同，而且在以下方面也不同： 它们接收的输入，因此受体分子的内容， 各种假定的传递物; B）第二信使; c）性质和 各种假定的递质和“神经调质”的数量 在其中心目标释放; d）对损伤的反应;以及e）其 选择性的再生能力。 我们当前的具体目标包括： 1)继续努力查明推定的发射器， RGCS中的神经肽，并定义其独特的中央投射。我们 目前正在集中研究脑啡肽， 胆囊收缩素。 2)识别不同组织中递质和营养因子的受体 神经节细胞群，特别是烟碱乙酰胆碱， GABA（A）和NGF受体。 3)试图阐明nAChR受体分子的转运作用， 神经节细胞轴突到视顶盖中的“非突触”位点（所谓的 “虚假运输”）。 4)确定递质和受体表达的时间模式 在胚胎发育过程中的视网膜神经元。 这些研究可能有助于确定调节神经节细胞的因素 神经递质、生长和对损伤的反应，如创伤和青光眼。 方法：光镜和电镜免疫组织化学，原位 杂交、顺行和逆行途径追踪方法。动物： 猪胚胎鸡胚胎青蛙

Our 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. RGCs differ not only in morphology and central projections, but also in: a) the input they receive and hence the content of receptor molecules for various putative transmitters; b) second messengers; c) the nature and number of various putative transmitters and "neuromodulators" presumably released at their central targets; d) response to injury; and e) their selective ability to regenerate. Our immediate specific aims include: 1) Continue ongoing efforts to identify putative transmitters and neuropeptides in RGCS, and define their unique central projections. We presently are concentrating on the neuropeptides enkephalin and cholecystokinin. 2) Identify receptors for transmitters and trophic factors in different populations of ganglion cells, particularly nicotinic acetylcholine, GABA(A) and NGF receptors. 3) Attempt to clarify the role of transport of nAChR receptor molecules in ganglion cell axons to "nonsynaptic" sites in the optic tectum (so-called "spurious transport"). 4) Determine temporal patterns of expression of transmitters and receptors in retinal neurons during embryogenesis. These studies may help identify factors regulating ganglion cell transmitters, growth and response to injury, as in trauma and glaucoma. Methods: light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, anterograde and retrograde pathway tracing methods. Animals: Pigeons, chick embryos, frogs.