Mechanisms of Synaptic Specificity in Visual Circuits

Children'S Research Institute, Washington DC

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Abstract

? DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Integrating sensory information is critical for detection of salient stimuli and direction of appropriate responses, a necessary survival behavior. Disruptions in specific aspects of sensory processing and integration are hallmark features of several neurodevelopmental disorders, underscoring the importance of precise sensory circuit formation. Despite this, the mechanisms by which such synaptic specificity is established in integrative centers remains poorly understood, precluding the development of effective therapies. To fill this gap in knowledge, we will investigate the mechanisms by which sensory circuits are established in the superior colliculus (SC), a critical center where multiple modalitis of sensory information are integrated. Specifically, we will focus on the developmental mechanisms of precise visual connections in the SC, which integrates input from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and Layer 5 (L5) neurons of the primary visual cortex (V1) during normal development and how these process are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders. First, we will use a combination of in vivo electrophysiology, cutting-edge neuronal tracing, and molecular analysis in a unique knock-in mouse model to determine the mechanisms by which distinct subtypes of L5 V1 neurons integrate into the appropriate subcircuit. Second, we will use a combination of in vivo electrophysiology and axon tracing paradigms in conditional knockout mouse models to dissect the mechanisms by which alignment of visual spatial maps is achieved. Finally, we will use a combination of in vivo electrophysiology, axon tracing and molecular analysis in a mouse model of FXS to determine the specific neural sensory processing deficits and which processes are disrupted to give rise to these deficits. Taken together, the proposed experiments will elucidate novel mechanisms by which precise connectivity and function are established in visual centers in development and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our results will provide critical insights necessary for the design of effective therapeutic strategies to treat these disorders.