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Horizontal cell signaling in the mammalian retina

Award Number: R01EY029869
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2024

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Horizontal cell signaling in the mammalian retina - The photoreceptor synaptic complex is of great importance as it is a key site for the processing of visual signals, and the transfer of these signals from photoreceptors to downstream neurons in the retina. The focus of this application is on horizontal cells, inhibitory interneurons that send feedback inhibition to photoreceptors, feedforward inhibition to bipolar cells, and autaptic signals to themselves. The prevailing view of horizontal cell function is that these cells mediate lateral inhibition between photoreceptors, contributing to the antagonistic receptive field surrounds found in downstream neurons. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the contribution of horizontal cells to receptive field properties in mammalian bipolar and ganglion cells has proven quite difficult to determine due in major part to the lack of fundamental information on horizontal cell signaling. The objective of this program is to understand visual processing in the retina with a focus on the synaptic and cellular mechanisms that underlie the initial stages of vision. We will address this objective by determining and testing the synaptic and cellular mechanisms mediating horizontal cell signaling via GABA to photoreceptors and bipolar cells, as well as to themselves. Specific Aim 1: Determine the mechanisms mediating horizontal cell signaling to photoreceptors. Experiments will test how horizontal cells mediate signaling to photoreceptors by A) identifying the complement of tonic GABAAR and GABACR subunits expressed by horizontal cells and B) characterizing the indirect action of GABA on inhibition and disinhibition of photoreceptor Cav channels. Specific Aim 2: Determine the mechanisms mediating horizontal cell feedforward signaling to bipolar cells. Experiments will test how horizontal cells provide tonic GABA-mediated signaling to bipolar cell types by A) identifying the complement of tonic GABAAR and GABACR subunits expressed on the dendrites of ON- and OFF-bipolar cells and B) characterizing the physiological properties of the GABAergic signal provided by optogenetically controlled horizontal cells to bipolar cells. Specific Aim 3: Determine the functional influence of horizontal cell signaling on bipolar cell visual processing. Experiments will test how features of the light responses of representative bipolar cell types are shaped by horizontal cell signaling using HaloTagTM and AMPA-DART, a novel chemogenetic tool to silence horizontal cell output. Proposed studies will further the understanding of fundamental processes mediating early vision. This objective is consistent with the health-related goals of the National Eye Institute for the understanding of retinal circuits and the development of therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools essential for the treatment and prevention of retinal disease.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	5	8/19/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $554,686 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	5	1/31/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$554,686
														Subtotal = $554,686

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $538,044 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	4	2/3/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$38,827
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	4	1/6/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$499,217
														Subtotal = $538,044

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $542,311 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90095	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	001	3	2/23/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,138
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90095	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	3	1/22/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$503,173
														Subtotal = $542,311

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $559,082 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90095	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	2	1/28/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$559,082
														Subtotal = $559,082

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $559,082 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90095	LOS ANGELES	USA	Vision Research	000	1	1/22/2019	NEW	$559,082
														Subtotal = $559,082

Grand Total All Awards = $2,753,205

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Horizontal cell signaling in the mammalian retina

Award Number: R01EY029869

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2024

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