Distribution of neurotransmitter receptors on identified cell populations in the primate retina

Funded Activity Summary

Neurons (nerve cells) communicate with each other by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters at specialized sites called synapses. Each neuron has synaptic receptors, which determine how it will respond to neurotransmitters released by other neurons. The molecular structure and function of these receptors is well understood. Much less is known about the rules that govern which receptor types are expressed by each type of neuron, and how these receptors are distributed to the appropriate synapses so as to allow the normal function of the nervous system. We will study the distribution of neurotransmitter receptors on identified neurons in the retina. The retina is part of the central nervous system and its highly ordered structure makes it an ideal model nervous system. We will compare the distribution of receptors on neurons that play distinct functional roles in colour and movement detection. These experiments will advance our understanding of the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $421,812.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical virology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Blindness | Colour Blindness | Eyes and Vision | Ophthalmology | Primate retina | electron microscopy | immunocytochemistry | neural circuit | neurotransmitter receptors

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