PEPTIDERGIC NEURONS OF THE PRIMATE RETINA

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）：研究的目标是 描述为侏儒和阳伞提供输入的神经回路 神经节细胞产生两个主要的平行处理流， 猕猴的视觉通路因为猕猴的视网膜 与人类相似，结果也将有助于理解 人类视觉具体目标1研究侏儒细胞，已知 投射到LGN的小细胞层，并被认为有助于 空间视觉和红绿色觉。他们的投入来自长期和 通过小型双极细胞的中波长锥已经被很好地表征 在视网膜中央。在上一个供资期间， 神经节细胞进行了研究，以及在周边视网膜，和两个无长突 细胞在这一途径进行了描述，并将确定在拟议的 实验工作假设是这两者之间的相互作用 无长突细胞对于解释特定颜色的环境是必不可少的 侏儒神经节细胞的反应。专项2调查阳伞 突出到LGN的大细胞层的神经节细胞， 有助于感知运动以及感知的其他方面。 在上一个资助期，对阳伞细胞的突触输入是 描述，间隙连接被发现在两个网站提供输入这些 细胞工作假设是缝隙连接是一个共同的特点， 这条途径，拟议的实验将确定更多类型的 突触前神经元并检查电耦合的潜在位点。 具体目标3是制作一个真实的神经回路计算机模型 在解剖学研究中被发现为神经节细胞提供输入。的 一个侏儒神经节细胞输入电路的模型将测试这部小说 这一假设解释了它们的视锥特异性周围环境， 视锥特异性连接，除了那些已知存在于中央视网膜之间的连接之外， 视锥细胞、侏儒双极细胞和侏儒神经节细胞。阳伞细胞更多 比侏儒细胞更敏感的亮度对比度和反应更短暂。 与侏儒细胞不同，它们也与其他的阳伞细胞同步放电。 相同的子类型。模型研究将测试假设， 对侏儒和阳伞神经节细胞的突触输入可以解释许多 这些生理上的差异。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract): The goal of the research is to describe the neural circuits that provide input to the midget and parasol ganglion cells that give rise to the two major parallel processing streams in the macaque visual pathway. Because the retina of macaque monkey is very similar to that of humans, the results will also be helpful for understanding human vision. Specific aim 1 investigates midget cells that are known to project to the parvocellular layers of the LGN, and are thought to contribute to spatial vision, and to red-green color vision. Their inputs from long and medium wavelength cones via midget bipolar cells have been well characterized in the central retina. During the last funding period, inputs to midget ganglion cells were investigated in peripheral retina as well, and two amacrine cells in this pathway were described and will be identified in the proposed experiments. The working hypothesis is that interactions between these two amacrine cells are essential to account for the color-specific surround responses of midget ganglion cells. Specific aim 2 investigates parasol ganglion cells that project to the magnocellular layers of the LGN and contribute to perception of motion as well as other aspects of perception. During the prior funding period, synaptic inputs to parasol cells were described, and gap junctions were found at two sites providing input to these cells. The working hypothesis is that gap junctions are a common feature of this pathway, and the proposed experiments will identify more types of presynaptic neurons and examine potential sites of electrical coupling. Specific aim 3 is to make a realistic computer model of the neural circuits that were found in anatomical studies to provide input to ganglion cells. The model of the input circuit to midget ganglion cells will test the novel hypothesis that accounts for their cone-specific surrounds without cone-specific connections except those known to exist in central retina between cones, midget bipolar cells and midget ganglion cells. Parasol cells are more sensitive than midget cells to luminance contrast and respond more transiently. Unlike midget cells, they also fire in synchrony with other parasol cells of the same subtype. The modeling studies will test hypotheses that differences in synaptic inputs to the midget and parasol ganglion cells can account for many of these physiological differences.