Retinal melanopsin pathway: Signaling & Connectivity

描述(由申请人提供)：黑素是一种假定的光色素，最近被证明存在于大鼠和小鼠的一小部分固有的光敏视网膜神经节细胞中(1-2%)。这些细胞投射到大脑中的非成像视觉中心，如视交叉上核、膝间小叶和顶盖前橄榄核。这项建议的长期目标是详细了解黑素相关视觉通路的结构和功能。具体目标是： 1)为了详细地将含有黑素的视网膜神经节细胞的投射映射到小鼠的大脑， 2)为了评估黑素相关信号与视杆/视锥信号对小鼠非成像视觉功能的贡献， 3)研究表达黑素的光敏性视网膜神经节细胞的光反应和光传导机制。 4)研究灵长类和其他脊椎动物视网膜神经元表达黑素的特点。 实验方法将结合小鼠遗传学、细胞生物学、电生理学和一些协作性的全动物生理和行为实验。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Melanopsin is a putative photopigment recently shown to be present in a small subset (1-2%) of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in rat and mouse. These cells project to non-image-forming visual centers in the brain, such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the intergeniculate leaflet and the olivary pretectal nucleus. The long-term objective of this proposal is to understand the structure and function of the melanopsin-associated visual pathway in detail. The specific aims are: 1) To map the projections of the melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells to the mouse brain in detail, 2) To assess the contribution of melanopsin-associated signaling versus that of rod/cone signaling to non-image-forming visual functions in mouse, 3) To study the light responses and the phototransduction mechanism of the intrinsically photosensitive, melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells, and 4) To study the characteristics of the melanopsin-expressing retinal neurons in primates and other vertebrates. The experimental approach will combine mouse genetics, cell biology, electrophysiology and some collaborative whole-animal physiological and behavioral experiments.