Characterization of the Nicotinic Receptor in Rat Retina

描述(由申请人提供)： 这项拨款中提出的研究项目涉及描述视网膜中尼古丁受体的亚型。神经递质乙酰胆碱和尼古丁受体在视网膜细胞信号中起着至关重要的作用。视觉通路的发展和可能的实际眼球生长都取决于特定亚型的尼古丁受体。我的研究目标包括：(1)利用药理结合实验中的亚型特异性药物和免疫沉淀实验中的亚型特异性抗体以及免疫印迹实验中的亚型特异性抗体来表征视网膜中尼古丁受体的主要亚型。(2)体内尼古丁和神经生长因子对尼古丁受体的调节作用以及视网膜组织培养中尼古丁受体的调节作用。(3)确定烟碱受体的哪些亚型沿视神经向外侧膝状核和上丘运输。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The research project proposed in this grant involves characterizing the subtypes of the nicotinic receptor in the retina. The neurotransmitter acteylcholine and the nicotinic receptor play a vital role in cell signaling in the retina. The development of the visual pathway and possibly actual ocular growth both depend on specific subtypes of nicotinic receptors. The aims of my research include: (1) Characterization of the dominant subtypes of the nicotinic receptor in the retina using subtype specific drugs in pharmacological binding assays and subunit specific antibodies in immunoprecipitation experiments and western blotting. (2) Examination of the regulation of the nicotinic receptor by nicotine and NGF in vivo and in cultures of retinal explants. (3) Determination of which subtypes of the nicotinic receptor are transported down the optic nerve to the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus.