# Demographics of Retinal Nerve Cell Populations

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · 2021 · $377,087

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Cellular populations in the nervous system vary in their demographics: They differ in their size, positioning,
intercellular spacing, dendritic overlap, and connectivity. This research program has been identifying the
genetic sources of this variation and analyzing the interdependencies between these population dynamics,
using the retina as a model system and a panel of twenty-six genetically distinct recombinant inbred mouse
strains. Neuron number varies considerably across these strains of mice, for every different type of retinal
neuron analyzed to date, and this variation maps to discrete and largely independent genomic loci for each cell
type, showing minimal evidence for genetic co-regulation. The present proposal will continue to explore the
genetic sources of such variation in cell number, focusing upon different populations of retinal interneurons,
and how such variation in their cell number affects those other demographic traits, via four new specific aims.
Specific Aim 1 will extend our use of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping strategies to identify epistatic
interactions controlling the variation in retinal cell number. It will identify candidate genes at interacting genomic
loci, and demonstrate their genetic interaction directly. Specific Aim 2 will examine the role of the Rbfox gene
family in retinal development, and identify changes in alternative splice transcripts in the absence of RBFOX
function. Specific Aim 3 will define the role of the transcription factor, Nfia, in the selective control of AII
amacrine cell number. It will assess the alternative splicing of Nfia as a function of development, and examine
the functional properties of developmentally regulated isoforms. Specific Aim 4 will define the degree of
dependency of VGluT3 amacrine cell differentiation upon the density and intercellular spacing of these cells,
seeking to understand the role played by homotypic interactions in regulating retinal coverage. The present
research proposal will thereby identify the genetic determinants and intercellular interactions that underlie the
demographic features of cellular populations in the retina. These studies will clarify our understanding of retinal
development and identify novel genes and their variants that may contribute to developmental disorders of the
nervous system, together informing the emerging field of regenerative medicine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10074570
- **Project number:** 5R01EY019968-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
- **Principal Investigator:** BENJAMIN E REESE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $377,087
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10074570

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10074570, Demographics of Retinal Nerve Cell Populations (5R01EY019968-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10074570. Licensed CC0.

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