# Intercellular Communication in Retinal Development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $69,198

## Abstract

Summary
Neuronal information is immensely enhanced by the diversification of signals at synaptic
connections. Postsynaptic cells can display very different outputs despite being connected to
the same presynaptic neuron or neuronal cell type. Many pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms
can give rise to signal diversification at synapses. In this proposal, we explore the synaptic
wiring strategies that can lead to different signal transforms within circuits of known functions.
We will determine the synaptic output arrangements of cone bipolar interneurons in the
vertebrate retina. Cone bipolar cells are essential for daylight vision, and transfer information to
ganglion cells, the output neurons of the retina, at synaptic specializations called dyads.
Information may be modified at dyads by a variety of mechanisms, including inhibition from
amacrine cells. Preliminary data and previous work show that ganglion cells connected to the
same bipolar cell type exhibit very different output properties. Furthermore, ganglion cell types
that exhibit distinct outputs receive input from bipolar cells that are morphologically separate but
respond similarly to light. Here, we will test the broad hypothesis that there is wiring specificity at
synaptic dyads between different types of bipolar cells, amacrine cells and ganglion cells (Aim
1). To do so, we will use a combination of correlative fluorescence imaging and serial block face
scanning electron microscopy together with confocal imaging, and transgenic approaches to
reconstruct synaptic motifs between specific types of cone bipolar cells and ganglion cells.
Because cone bipolar cell dyads are key to synaptic transmission in the retina, we will increase
our understanding of how they are assembled properly during development using the same
toolset (Aim 2a). Moreover, we still lack a clear understanding of the capacity and constraints of
reconnecting neurons appropriately during retinal repair. Using a model of ganglion cell injury
and recovery, we will determine how well cone bipolar cell synaptic connections are
reassembled when ganglion cells regrow dendrites that had retracted after axotomy (Aim 2b).
Together, our studies will significantly advance knowledge of the matrix of synaptic wiring
patterns in retinal microcircuits in which visual signals diversify greatly. We will also gain a
deeper understanding of how these key synaptic patterns are established during development
and potentially regained during circuit regeneration.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065023
- **Project number:** 3R01EY010699-26S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel O Wong
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $69,198
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1994-07-01 → 2020-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065023

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065023, Intercellular Communication in Retinal Development (3R01EY010699-26S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065023. Licensed CC0.

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