RETINAL DYSTROPHY IN RDS MICE--ROLE OF DOPAMINE

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：初步调查 经申请人对多巴胺(DA)代谢的研究表明，有很大的 与正常小鼠相比，rds小鼠的DA合成和释放减少。 因为多巴胺被证明是昼夜节律的神经调节器 视网膜中的适应性现象，申请人假设 多巴胺代谢异常可能影响遗传中光感受器的活性 视网膜变性。纯合子和杂合子rds小鼠以及 正常的小鼠，将被使用。第一个具体目标将决定 视网膜发育过程中多巴胺代谢的昼夜模式 用高效液相色谱仪进行变性。第二个目标将确定依赖DA的cAMP 突变光感受器的新陈代谢。最后，第四个目标将决定 正常视网膜多巴胺耗竭对光感受器的影响 存活率、cAMP代谢和昼夜间盘脱落。

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.