This is a proposal to study three particular cell types in the rabbit retina, each of which has a well-defined dendritic morphology and whose dendrites all ramify in the same two sublaminae within the inner plexiform layer. Starburst amacrine cells contain both acetylcholine and GABA and are known to interact with ON-OFF directionally-selective ganglion cells. A third cell type, the so-called DAPI-3 cell, receives both cholinergic and GABAergic input and may be involved in a feedback loop with the starburst amacrine cells via glycinergic transmission. The circuitry between these cell types involves both nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, GABA-A receptors, GABA-B receptors, and glycine receptors. The premise of this proposal is that by defining the synaptic circuitry between these cells, and by localizing the different receptor subtypes, it will be possible to approach an understanding of how neuronal microcircuitry translates into physiological function.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01EY007552-10A2
Application #
2859231
Study Section
Visual Sciences C Study Section (VISC)
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
1999-07-31
Budget Start
1999-04-01
Budget End
1999-07-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Grzywacz, Norberto M; Zucker, Charles L (2006) Modeling Starburst cells' GABA(B) receptors and their putative role in motion sensitivity. Biophys J 91:473-86
Zucker, Charles L; Nilson, James E; Ehinger, Berndt et al. (2005) Compartmental localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptors in the cholinergic circuitry of the rabbit retina. J Comp Neurol 493:448-59
Zucker, C L; Ehinger, B (2001) Complexities of retinal circuitry revealed by neurotransmitter receptor localization. Prog Brain Res 131:71-81
Zucker, C L; Ehinger, B (1998) Gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors on a bistratified amacrine cell type in the rabbit retina. J Comp Neurol 393:309-19
Zucker, C L (1998) Localization of gephyrin and glycine receptor subunit immunoreactivity in the rabbit retina. Vis Neurosci 15:389-95
Wasselius, J; Johansson, K; Bruun, A et al. (1998) Correlations between cholinergic neurons and muscarinic m2 receptors in the rat retina. Neuroreport 9:1799-802
Ehinger, B; Zucker, C L (1996) GABAA receptors in neurons of the nerve fiber layer in rabbit retina. Vis Neurosci 13:991-4
Zucker, C L; Ehinger, B; Seiler, M et al. (1994) Ultrastructural circuitry in retinal cell transplants to rat retina. J Neural Transplant Plast 5:17-29
Ehinger, B; Zucker, C L; Bruun, A et al. (1994) In vivo staining of oligodendroglia in the rabbit retina. Glia 10:40-8
Zucker, C L; Ehinger, B (1993) Synaptic connections involving immunoreactive glycine receptors in the turtle retina. Vis Neurosci 10:907-14

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