Modulating Retinal Glutamate Transport In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$256,527.00
Summary
Damage can occur to nervous tissues like the retina and brain when there is a reduction in the blood supply. This can occur as a result of a blood clot, stroke or the eye disease, glaucoma. These conditions often result in blindness. Much of the neuronal damage is due to the release of an excess of glutamate. Glutamate is a chemical (neurotransmitter) that nerves use to communicate with each other, but it is toxic to nerves when present at high concentrations. This project will investigate the m ....Damage can occur to nervous tissues like the retina and brain when there is a reduction in the blood supply. This can occur as a result of a blood clot, stroke or the eye disease, glaucoma. These conditions often result in blindness. Much of the neuronal damage is due to the release of an excess of glutamate. Glutamate is a chemical (neurotransmitter) that nerves use to communicate with each other, but it is toxic to nerves when present at high concentrations. This project will investigate the mechanisms that regulate the concentration of glutamate in the retina. If these mechanisms could be made to work more efficiently, they may prevent the build-up of the glutamate and therefore prevent damage to the nerve cells. Understanding these mechanisms will aid in the development of an effective treatment to prevent blindness when there is a blockage of the blood supply to the retina.Read moreRead less
TRAFFICKING OF METABOLITES BETWEEN M LLER CELLS AND NEURONS IN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$211,320.00
Summary
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working population. In some diabetics, blood vessels within the retina proliferate, haemorrhage or cause retinal detachment. The underlying changes within the retina that lead to the proliferation of blood vessels are not well understood. One of the factors that leads to changes in retinal blood vessels is an incease in growth factors from cells in the retina called Muller cells. Muller cells are vital for the normal function of the retina, and a ....Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working population. In some diabetics, blood vessels within the retina proliferate, haemorrhage or cause retinal detachment. The underlying changes within the retina that lead to the proliferation of blood vessels are not well understood. One of the factors that leads to changes in retinal blood vessels is an incease in growth factors from cells in the retina called Muller cells. Muller cells are vital for the normal function of the retina, and are known to be abnromal late in diabetes. They may also be dysfunctional early in diabetes and could play a significant role in the early chnages seen in diabetes. Therefore a good understanding of how Muller cells change and the time at which they change is vitally important to gain a better undetrstanding of the defects that are associated with diabetes. Furthermore, an understanding of the basic underlying cellular changes that occur in diabetes will aid the development of more specific therapeutic agents in the future.Read moreRead less