Our studies are directed at defining the role of cortical-NOT and cortical-DLPN pathways in the control of smooth pursuit, OKN and gaze holding in visually-deprived monkeys compared to normally-reared monkeys. The visual and oculomotor systems are not mature at birth in either monkeys or humans. These systems develop in a synergistic fashion during the first few months of life. The visual system depends on the oculomotor system to hold the image of an object of interest relatively stable on the retina, to allow clear, high acuity vision. The oculomotor system relies on visual signals to provide error information for calibration of oculomotor output. If binocular visual experience is disrupted early in life, disorders in vision, gaze holding, eye alignment and eye movements follow. These disorders are permanent and difficult to treat. Our hypothesis is that visual afferent structures including the pretectal nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and dorsolateral pontine nucleus (DLPN) will be defective in cases with pathological gaze holding and smooth pursuit eye movements. The NOT and DLPN depend on inputs from the middle temporal (MT) and medial superior temporal (MST) visual cortical areas for normal function. Our studies are designed to manipulate early coordinated binocular visual experience to provide an appropriate animal model to study alterations in oculomotor circuits associated with congenital cataracts and strabismus. Our preliminary data indicates that neurons in MT/MST and NOT are differentially sensitive to various forms of early visual deprivation. The neural substrate for latent nystagmus and defective smooth pursuit will be investigated using single unit recording in awake, behaving macaques. Eye movements will be measured precisely with an electromagnetic method. Completion of our studies will improve the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of vision, gaze holding and eye movements in children.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY006069-18A1
Application #
6617375
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Program Officer
Hunter, Chyren
Project Start
1990-09-30
Project End
2008-02-29
Budget Start
2003-03-01
Budget End
2004-02-29
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$392,500
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Bakst, Leah; Fleuriet, Jérome; Mustari, Michael J (2017) FEFsem neuronal response during combined volitional and reflexive pursuit. J Vis 17:13
McMillan, A; Mustari, M; Horn, A (2017) Identification of secondary vestibulo-ocular neurons in human based on their histochemical characteristics found in monkey. J Neurol 264:583-585
Walton, Mark M G; Mustari, Michael J (2017) Comparison of three models of saccade disconjugacy in strabismus. J Neurophysiol 118:3175-3193
Ono, Seiji; Mustari, Michael J (2016) Response properties of MST parafoveal neurons during smooth pursuit adaptation. J Neurophysiol 116:210-7
McLoon, Linda K; Christiansen, Stephen P; Ghose, Geoffrey M et al. (2016) Improvement of Eye Alignment in Adult Strabismic Monkeys by Sustained IGF-1 Treatment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:6070-6078
Fleuriet, Jérome; Walton, Mark M G; Ono, Seiji et al. (2016) Electrical Microstimulation of the Superior Colliculus in Strabismic Monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:3168-80
Willoughby, Christy L; Fleuriet, Jérome; Walton, Mark M et al. (2015) Adaptability of the Immature Ocular Motor Control System: Unilateral IGF-1 Medial Rectus Treatment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:3484-96
Walton, Mark M G; Mustari, Michael J; Willoughby, Christy L et al. (2015) Abnormal activity of neurons in abducens nucleus of strabismic monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:10-9
Tang, Xiaofang; Büttner-Ennever, Jean A; Mustari, Michael J et al. (2015) Internal organization of medial rectus and inferior rectus muscle neurons in the C group of the oculomotor nucleus in monkey. J Comp Neurol 523:1809-23
Willoughby, Christy L; Fleuriet, Jérome; Walton, Mark M et al. (2015) Adaptation of slow myofibers: the effect of sustained BDNF treatment of extraocular muscles in infant nonhuman primates. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:3467-83

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