Amacrine cells in the primate retina

• Applicant: Dr. Felix Weltzien
• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2013 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 238094807

Hereby, I propose to apply a new technique called DiI injection after prelabelling to investigate the morphology of neurons in the central nervous system of humans and monkeys. The method combines the immunohistochemical identification of cell types with intracellular dye injections to allow for directed targeting and analysis of specific cells of interest. - I propose to study two types of amacrine cells (AII and spiny amacrine cell) in the primate retina. Amacrine cells are the least investigated class of neurons in the primate retina. The AII amacrine cell, a crucial interneuron in the rod pathway, has recently been suggested as a target for optogenetic approaches to treat Retinitis Pigmentosa, an inherited degenerative eye disease that causes blindness. However, the fine morphology and distribution of this cell type has not been described in humans. I propose to thoroughly characterize this cell type, using the proposed methods, and generate the data necessary for the progression of the new treatments. I recently characterised the spiny type of amacrine cell in marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) retina. The spiny amacrine cell type has not been described in detail in human retina. In order to reveal its function in the human retinal circuitry, I will reveal the morphology and distribution of this cell type in post mortem human retina. This well defined research project will not only create baseline data of morphology and distribution of a poorly defined class of retinal neurons, but it will also aid the progression of optogenetic therapies and help to develop new treatments to cure severe eye disease.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Australia
• Host: Dr. Ulrike Grünert