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Full text release has been delayed at the author's request until August 05, 2025

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Adaptations to the Visual Environment via Transient Light-Sensitive Circuits

D'Souza, Shane
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6344-1434
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692289740847245

Abstract Details

2023, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Molecular and Developmental Biology.
Establishment of the archetype nervous system requires coordination between multiple intrinsic biological levels: from gene expression, to accurate cell type generation and their subsequent connectivity. Atop these innately encoded biological programs, the extrinsic environment imposes physical constraints on development, leading to the formation of a nervous system tuned by both “nature” and “nurture”. A neural system that exemplifies this coordination is the visual system – a specialized collection of regions, including the eye and the brain, that are tasked with encoding, integrating, and responding to the ever-changing visual world. During visual system development, a multitude of cell types come in close proximity, making transient connections that do not last into adulthood, but are nonetheless important for development. Additionally, early sensory activity further modulates transient developmental events, adding to the complexity of how the visual system forms and eventually functions. Thus, to understand the remarkably complex sensory experience we call vision, we must turn back the clock and assess how transient events during development set the trajectory for the final configuration of the visual system. In this thesis, we describe the importance of cellular diversity and transient connectivity in the establishment of the visual system, focusing on intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). These neurons are the earliest born cell in the retina, and the sole projection out of the retina to the brain, where they communicate with 50+ targets. As such, they are poised to interact locally with all developing cell types, and centrally by innervating their targets. The data put forward in this thesis suggest that during development, the diversity of cells and their transient modes of communication are vital in shaping and establishing the archetype visual system. Historically, the overproduction of neurons and their aberrant targeting have been seen as mechanisms to correct errors during development. However, our data imply that this may not be the case – developmental mechanisms and transient communication have evolved to serve a functional purpose in establishing the architecture of neural systems.
Richard Lang, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Steve Danzer, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Ronald Waclaw, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Melanie Samuel, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Brian Gebelein, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
195 p.
Neurobiology
retinal development; sensory experience; vision; ipRGC; neonate

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • D'Souza, S. (2023). Adaptations to the Visual Environment via Transient Light-Sensitive Circuits [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692289740847245

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • D'Souza, Shane. Adaptations to the Visual Environment via Transient Light-Sensitive Circuits. 2023. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692289740847245.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • D'Souza, Shane. "Adaptations to the Visual Environment via Transient Light-Sensitive Circuits." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1692289740847245

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1692289740847245
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.