Our research is directed at analysing the role of neurotransmitter receptors and ionic channels at particular synaptic sites in the vertebrate retina. Intracellular electrophysiology, in combination with drug application and single cell staining procedures, will be utilized to study retinal circuitry. The physiological roles of glutamate and GABA receptors in the distal retina and glycine receptors in the proximal retina will be explored. Experiments will be directed at demonstrating that receptor subtypes mediate particular visual pathways in the retina.
The specific aims are to 1) distinguish and characterize the glutamate receptors on OFF bipolar and horizontal cells, 2) correlate glutamate receptor subtypes with particular ionic conductances, 3) evaluate the role of GABA receptors in mediating horizontal cell feedback, 4) describe the effects of light driven modulation of extracellular potassium concentrations on horizontal cell coupling, and 5) characterize glycine receptors and determine if other endogenous amino acids normally activate these receptors. The long term objective of this research is to employ pharmacological techniques as a tool to provide a description of the synaptic physiology of the retina. This information could provide a methodology for analysing visual information processing and for localizing sites of pathophysiology, particularly as it relates to retinal disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY005725-08
Application #
3261126
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1984-08-01
Project End
1991-12-31
Budget Start
1991-01-01
Budget End
1991-12-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
State University of New York at Buffalo
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
038633251
City
Buffalo
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14260
Garaycochea, Jay; Slaughter, Malcolm M (2016) GABAB receptors enhance excitatory responses in isolated rat retinal ganglion cells. J Physiol 594:5543-54
Wu, Fuguo; Kaczynski, Tadeusz J; Sethuramanujam, Santhosh et al. (2015) Two transcription factors, Pou4f2 and Isl1, are sufficient to specify the retinal ganglion cell fate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:E1559-68
Sethuramanujam, Santhosh; Slaughter, Malcolm M (2014) Disinhibitory recruitment of NMDA receptor pathways in retina. J Neurophysiol 112:193-203
Li, Ping; Slaughter, Malcolm M (2012) Gating effects on picrotin block of glycine receptors. Neuroreport 23:1017-20
Song, Yunbo; Slaughter, Malcolm M (2010) GABA(B) receptor feedback regulation of bipolar cell transmitter release. J Physiol 588:4937-49
Duan, Lei; Yang, Jaeyoung; Slaughter, Malcolm M (2009) Caffeine inhibition of ionotropic glycine receptors. J Physiol 587:4063-75
Frolov, R V; Slaughter, M M; Singh, S (2008) Effects of celecoxib on ionic currents and spontaneous firing in rat retinal neurons. Neuroscience 154:1525-32
Shen, W; Slaughter, M M (2001) Multireceptor GABAergic regulation of synaptic communication in amphibian retina. J Physiol 530:55-67
Tian, N; Slaughter, M M (1994) Pharmacological similarity between the retinal APB receptor and the family of metabotropic glutamate receptors. J Neurophysiol 71:2258-68
Tian, N; Slaughter, M M (1994) Pharmacology of the GABAB receptor in amphibian retina. Brain Res 660:267-74

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