The long-term goal of this project is to determine how the neurochemical circuitry of the retina contributes to its function of processing visual information. Attention will be directed to the identification of neuronal subpopulations which utilize specific transmitters or combinations of transmitters; elucidation of features which are unique to specific cell types, and characterization of synaptic input to identified cells.
Specific aims i nclude: (1) Use of immunocytochemical techniques to characterize the transmitter content and synaptic relationships of subpopulations of neurons in the cat retina. Antisera against neurotransmitters (glycine, GABA, glutamate, substance P and other neuropeptides) or their synthetic enzymes (choline acetyltransferase, tyrosine hydroxylase) will be used to localize the neurons which use these transmitters. Colocalizations of transmitters with other transmitters, modulators and marker enzymes will used to distinguish among multiple cell types which label for a single transmitter. Studies will be conducted at both light and electron microscopic levels in order to determine the laminar distribution nd synaptic relationships of labeled neurons. Receptor antisera will be used to explore the distribution of labeled neurons. Receptor antisera will be used to explore the relationships between presynaptic transmitter content and postsynaptic receptor distribution. (2) Diversity in synaptic vesicle morphology and protein content will be used to distinguish among multiple neuronal subpopulations utilizing a single neurotransmitter. (3) The synaptic input to identified neurons will be characterized through the use of intracellular filling in combination with postembedding immunocytochemical identification of transmitter input. Serial reconstructions will be used to relate this input to the dendritic branching patterns of receptive cells. (4) The neurotransmitter content of ganglion cells will be examined both within the retina and at projection sites in the superior colliculus and lateral geniculate nucleus. Ganglion cell identification will be assured by retrograde or anterograde labeling techniques. (5) Quantitative techniques will be used to estimate the relative amounts of transmitter in various retinal subpopulations and the effects of varying stimulus conditions on these levels. The elucidation of neurochemical and synaptic relationships as proposed in this application will contribute not only to an understanding of retinal function but will serve as a model for neurochemical interactions throughout the central nervous system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY002267-16
Application #
2158387
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1978-12-01
Project End
1996-06-30
Budget Start
1994-07-01
Budget End
1995-06-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Fyk-Kolodziej, Bozena; Pourcho, Roberta G (2007) Differential distribution of hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in cone bipolar cells of the rat retina. J Comp Neurol 501:891-903
Fyk-Kolodziej, Bozena; Dzhagaryan, Arturik; Qin, Pu et al. (2004) Immunocytochemical localization of three vesicular glutamate transporters in the cat retina. J Comp Neurol 475:518-30
Fyk-Kolodziej, Bozena; Qin, Pu; Dzhagaryan, Arturik et al. (2004) Differential cellular and subcellular distribution of glutamate transporters in the cat retina. Vis Neurosci 21:551-65
Fyk-Kolodziej, Bozena; Qin, Pu; Pourcho, Roberta G (2003) Identification of a cone bipolar cell in cat retina which has input from both rod and cone photoreceptors. J Comp Neurol 464:104-13
Winkler, Barry S; Pourcho, Roberta G; Starnes, Catherine et al. (2003) Metabolic mapping in mammalian retina: a biochemical and 3H-2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic study. Exp Eye Res 77:327-37
Pourcho, Roberta G; Qin, Pu; Goebel, Dennis J et al. (2002) Agonist-stimulated cobalt uptake provides selective visualization of neurons expressing AMPA- or kainate-type glutamate receptors in the retina. J Comp Neurol 454:341-9
Fyk-Kolodziej, Bozena; Cai, Wenhui; Pourcho, Roberta G (2002) Distribution of protein kinase C isoforms in the cat retina. Vis Neurosci 19:549-62
Qin, P; Pourcho, R G (2001) Immunocytochemical localization of kainate-selective glutamate receptor subunits GluR5, GluR6, and GluR7 in the cat retina. Brain Res 890:211-21
Pourcho, R G; Qin, P; Goebel, D J (2001) Cellular and subcellular distribution of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B in the retina. J Comp Neurol 433:75-85
Cai, W; Pourcho, R G (1999) Localization of metabotropic glutamate receptors mGluR1alpha and mGluR2/3 in the cat retina. J Comp Neurol 407:427-37

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