The overall goal of the proposed project is to provide data concerning the relationships between the anatomically recognized retinal ganglion cell classes and the ganglion cell classes descried in physiological studies and, further, to describe possible correlations between specific morphological and functional characteristics among these cells. The primary technique used to achieve this aim will be electrophophysiological classification of cat retinal ganglion cells by transcleral microelectrode recording followed by intracellular injection of these neurons with horseradish peroxidase. Labeled retinal ganglion cells will subsequently be analyzed morphologically at both the light and electron microscopic level. A number of these structure/function correlations have been previously defined at the light microscopic level; extension of these experiments to the ultrastructural analysis of physiologically characterized retinal ganglion cells is the only direct approach available for defining differences in the pattern and distribution of synaptic input between different classes of ganglion cells. These analyses will also determine if recognizable synaptic patterns are related to specific response characteristics. Despite considerable variability within the """"""""W- cell"""""""" class, data obtained in the previous grant period have made it possible to separate retinal W-cells into two mutually exclusive classes that can be defined by both anatomical and functional criteria.
A second aim of the proposed grant period is to analyze the visual responses of retinal W-cells quantitatively. These studies are designed to separate retinal W-cells into distinct classes based on objective response criteria and will also provide data similar to those available for retinal X- and Y- cells; data that have proven instrumental in the development of current hypotheses concerning the contribution of these cells to mammalian visual function. With very few exceptions, these data are lacking for retinal W-cells (which comprise nearly 50% of retinal ganglion cells).
A final aim of this grant period is to develop an in vitro recording preparation to investigate the mechanisms underlying the visual responses of retinal ganglion cells. The objective of these experiments is to define the synaptic mechanisms that underlie the visual responses of retinal ganglion cells and also to determine the role that the intrinsic properties of these neurons play in defining the response differences between ganglion cell classes. These studies will provide normal data for future comparison with those from abnormal developmental conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY004977-09
Application #
3259666
Study Section
Visual Sciences B Study Section (VISB)
Project Start
1983-03-01
Project End
1993-03-31
Budget Start
1991-04-01
Budget End
1992-03-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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McCall, M A; Gregg, R G; Merriman, K et al. (1996) Morphological and physiological consequences of the selective elimination of rod photoreceptors in transgenic mice. Exp Eye Res 63:35-50
Caserta, F; Eldred, W D; Fernandez, E et al. (1995) Determination of fractal dimension of physiologically characterized neurons in two and three dimensions. J Neurosci Methods 56:133-44
Weber, A J; Stanford, L R (1994) Synaptology of physiologically identified ganglion cells in the cat retina: a comparison of retinal X- and Y-cells. J Comp Neurol 343:483-99
Weber, A J; McCall, M A; Stanford, L R (1991) Synaptic inputs to physiologically identified retinal X-cells in the cat. J Comp Neurol 314:350-66
Weber, A J; Kail, R E; Stanford, L R (1989) Morphology of single, physiologically identified retinogeniculate Y-cell axons in the cat following damage to visual cortex at birth. J Comp Neurol 282:446-55
Stanford, L R (1987) Conduction velocity variations minimize conduction time differences among retinal ganglion cell axons. Science 238:358-60
Stanford, L R (1987) W-cells in the cat retina: correlated morphological and physiological evidence for two distinct classes. J Neurophysiol 57:218-44
Stanford, L R (1987) X-cells in the cat retina: relationships between the morphology and physiology of a class of cat retinal ganglion cells. J Neurophysiol 58:940-64