Dr. Smith proposes an interesting hypothesis.
In AIM 1 she plans to determine whether excess levels of homocysteine and glutamate damage retinal ganglion cells in vitro and in vivo and whether this damage can be blocked by NMDA receptor antagonists and by sigma receptor ligand.
IN AIM 2 she will determine whether sigma receptor ligands have a protective effect against the retinal ganglion cells death observed in early stages of diabetes. Finally in AIM 3, the investigator will use various methods to confirm the presence of type 1 sigma ligand in the retina. The investigator will analyze the pattern of type 1 sigma receptor expression in the retina.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21EY013089-01
Application #
6053433
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-END (01))
Program Officer
Dudley, Peter A
Project Start
2000-02-01
Project End
2002-01-31
Budget Start
2000-02-01
Budget End
2001-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$143,686
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical College of Georgia (MCG)
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Augusta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30912
Wang, Jing; Cui, Xuezhi; Roon, Penny et al. (2016) Role of Sigma 1 Receptor in Retinal Degeneration of the Ins2Akita/+ Murine Model of Diabetic Retinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57:2770-81
Smith, Sylvia B; Duplantier, Jennifer; Dun, Ying et al. (2008) In vivo protection against retinal neurodegeneration by sigma receptor 1 ligand (+)-pentazocine. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 49:4154-61
Martin, Pamela M; Roon, Penny; Van Ells, Tracy K et al. (2004) Death of retinal neurons in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:3330-6
Shamsul Ola, M; Moore, Pamela; Maddox, Dennis et al. (2002) Analysis of sigma receptor (sigmaR1) expression in retinal ganglion cells cultured under hyperglycemic conditions and in diabetic mice. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 107:97-107
Naggar, Hany; Ola, M Shamsul; Moore, Pamela et al. (2002) Downregulation of reduced-folate transporter by glucose in cultured RPE cells and in RPE of diabetic mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:556-63
Bridges, C C; Ola, M S; Prasad, P D et al. (2001) Regulation of taurine transporter expression by NO in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 281:C1825-36
Moore, P; El-sherbeny, A; Roon, P et al. (2001) Apoptotic cell death in the mouse retinal ganglion cell layer is induced in vivo by the excitatory amino acid homocysteine. Exp Eye Res 73:45-57
Bridges, C C; Kekuda, R; Wang, H et al. (2001) Structure, function, and regulation of human cystine/glutamate transporter in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42:47-54
Ola, M S; Moore, P; El-Sherbeny, A et al. (2001) Expression pattern of sigma receptor 1 mRNA and protein in mammalian retina. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 95:86-95
Kutty, R K; Kutty, G; Samuel, W et al. (2001) Molecular characterization and developmental expression of NORPEG, a novel gene induced by retinoic acid. J Biol Chem 276:2831-40

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications