The vertebrate retina offers unique advantages for studying the mechanisms of information processing in the central nervous system. Although the physiological responses and synaptic connections of the different cell types have been extensively studied, identities of neurotransmitters used by most retinal cells are unknown. For the past few years, we have studied the synthesis of transmitter candidates in dissociated, identified retinal cells (Lam, 1976). Such studies establish the feasibility of using isolated cells for physiological and chemical characterizations of retinal cells, and also suggest that some retinal neurons may not use any known candidates as transmitters. Based on these findings, the main objective of this research proposal is to continue the identification of neurotransmitters in the vertebrate retina. In particular, there are five specific aims: (1) The synthesis of acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, catecholamines and serotonin by each identified retinal cell type will be studied using the method of Lam (1976); (2) Since amino acids such as glutamate, aspartate, taurine and glycine have also been implicated as transmitters, the endogenous levels of these amino acids in identified retinal cells will be measured by dansylation and amino-acid analyses; (3) The release of transmitter candidates from identified retinal cells will be studied using light or high external K ion as stimuli; (4) From our previous studies, some cell types may not use any known candidates as transmitters (Lam, 1976), substances such as peptides will therefore be extracted and purified from bovine retinas and the physiological effects of these substances on the electroretinogram and ganglion cell activities of isolated perfused rabbit retinas will be tested using the method of Ames and Pollen (1969); attempts will be also made to determine the structures of retinal substances which have specific and reversible effects on retinal cells; these studies may establish the existence of new transmitters in the retina; (5) The appearance of transmitter syntheses during the development of the tadpole retina will be examined and correlated with the electrophysiological and morphological studies of Nilsson and Crescitelli (1969).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY002423-11
Application #
3256764
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1977-09-01
Project End
1992-08-31
Budget Start
1987-09-30
Budget End
1988-08-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Baylor College of Medicine
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
074615394
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Chang, A S; Lam, D M (1998) Mechanistic analyses of ion dependences in a high-affinity human serotonin transport system in transfected murine fibroblast cells. J Physiol 510 ( Pt 3):903-13
Peng, Y W; Lam, D M (1992) Organization and development of horizontal cells in the goldfish retina, II: Use of monoclonal antibody MH1. Vis Neurosci 8:231-41
Watt, C B; Florack, V J; Lam, D M (1991) A double-label analysis demonstrating that all enkephalin-immunoreactive amacrine cells in the chicken retina express neurotensin immunoreactivity. Brain Res 566:337-41
Frnka, J V; Chang, A S; Lam, D M (1991) Pharmacological characteristics of high-affinity serotonin uptake systems established through gene transfer. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 256:734-40
Fry, K R; Chen, N X; Glazebrook, P A et al. (1991) Postnatal development of ganglion cells in the rabbit retina: characterizations with AB5 and GABA antibodies. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 61:45-53
Peng, Y W; Lam, D M (1991) Organization and development of horizontal cells in the goldfish retina, I: The use of monoclonal antibody AT101. Vis Neurosci 6:357-70
Li, H B; Lam, D M (1990) Synaptic organization of neurotensin immunoreactive amacrine cells in the chicken retina. J Comp Neurol 294:252-61
Li, H B; Watt, C B; Lam, D M (1990) Double-label analyses of somatostatin's coexistence with enkephalin and gamma-aminobutyric acid in amacrine cells of the chicken retina. Brain Res 525:304-9
Li, H B; Lam, D M (1990) Localization of neuropeptide-immunoreactive neurons in the human retina. Brain Res 522:30-6
Li, T; Wu, S M; Lam, D M et al. (1990) Localization of classical neurotransmitters in interneurons of the larval tiger salamander retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:262-71

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