RETINAL DYSTROPHY IN RDS MICE--ROLE OF DOPAMINE

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：初步研究 申请人对多巴胺（DA）代谢的研究表明， 与正常小鼠相比，rds中DA合成和释放减少。 因为DA已被证明是昼夜节律的神经调节剂， 对于视网膜中的适应现象，申请人假设， DA代谢异常可能会影响感光细胞的生存能力， 视网膜变性 纯合子和杂合子rds小鼠，以及 将使用正常小鼠。 第一个具体目标将决定 DA代谢的昼夜模式在整个视网膜病变的进展 使用HPLC进行变性。 第二个目标是确定DA依赖性cAMP 突变型光感受器的代谢。 最后，第四个目标将决定 正常视网膜DA耗竭对感光细胞的影响 存活率、cAMP代谢和昼夜椎间盘脱落。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract): Preliminary investigations of dopamine (DA) metabolism by the applicant showed that there is a large reduction in DA synthesis and release in rds, compared to normal, mice. Because DA has been shown to act as a neuromodulator of circadian and adaptive phenomena in the retina, the applicant postulates that abnormalities in DA metabolism may affect photoreceptor viability in genetic retinal degenerations. Homozygous and heterozygous rds mice, as well as normal mice, will be used. The first specific aim will determine the diurnal pattern of DA metabolism throughout the progression of retinal degeneration using HPLC. The second aim will determine DA-dependent cAMP metabolism in mutant photoreceptors. Finally, the fourth aim will determine the consequences of DA depletion in normal retinas on photoreceptor viability, cAMP metabolism and diurnal disc shedding.