# Muller glia heterogeneity and progenitor fate

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $312,000

## Abstract

Blinding eye diseases are among the most feared disabilities afflicting the human population. Macular
degeneration and glaucoma are the leading causes of blindness in the USA. These diseases result from
neurodegeneration. Although a number of strategies for restoring sight to the blind are being pursued, a
regenerative one may be most ideal. Unfortunately mammals do not regenerate their CNS. However, hope
comes from zebrafish that posess remarkable regenerative powers and can regenerate a damaged retina. The
zebrafish retina shares structure and function with the mammalian retina and therefore, is an ideal system for
studying retina regeneration. Key to the success of retina regeneration in zebrafish are Muller glia (MG) that
respond to retinal damage by adopting properties of a stem cell that allows them to divide and generate
progenitors for retinal repair. It appears that fish MG are more plastic than their mammalian counterparts and
this plasticity allows them to acquire a stem cell-like state in response to retinal damage. This plasticity may be
influenced by intrinsic mechanisms and also the enviroment MG reside in. Our studies investigates interactions
between MG and their environment and how this impacts their quiescence and proliferation. In addition, MG
may represent a heterogenous population of which some are more prone to participate in retinal repair than
others. Our studies investigate MG heterogeneity and its impact on retina growth and regeneration. Finally,
although the ability of zebrafish MG to regenerate neurons is well documented, little is known about the
integration and function of these regenerated neurons in the retinal circuitry. Our studies will investigate
regenerated neuron integration into preexisting visual circuits and their participation in phototransduction.
These studies will not only further our understanding of MG plasticity and neuronal regeneration in zebrafish,
but will also suggest new strategies for stimulating retina regeneration in mammals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928928
- **Project number:** 5R01EY027310-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIEL J GOLDMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $312,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928928

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928928, Muller glia heterogeneity and progenitor fate (5R01EY027310-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928928. Licensed CC0.

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