Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2023, Biology

Vision is a crucial sense. Sight enables us to navigate and interact with our surroundings. Our environments contain an almost infinite variety of shapes, contours, and colors. Yet we only have a finite number of cells, and those cells consume a finite amount of energy. Vision enables us to effectively interact with these complex environments despite these limitations. In order for retinal development to be completed, light-evoked activity is required. Various synapses in the inner retina also must be established in order for these signals to propagate further. Only after these things occur can the visual system function at full capacity. Because of this much of the aims center around timing of electrophysiological activity in the retina. The first aim of this dissertation will be to establish a timeline for which photoreceptors (rods and cones), and bipolar cells are capable of generating and transmitting light evoked activity. Disruption of this light evoked activity can result in residual immature and can result in visual deficits. The second aim of this dissertation will be to analyze a model of X-linked retinoschisis at timepoints before eye-opening and determine how cells physiological output is reduced by this disease. The transition and increasing influence of GABA occurs around the same time we have determined bipolar cells become capable of light-evoked activity. The final aim of this dissertation is to describe a computational model of the generation and propagation of retinal waves from the SAC. Together each aim is directed at synaptogenesis at and around eye-opening. How does the presence of light evoked activity alter the physiological output of electrochemical signals at the first synapse and beyond, and how do these signals influence early synaptic refinement due to retinal waves?

Committee: Jordan Renna (Advisor); Richard Londraville (Committee Member); Qin Liu (Committee Member); Neal Peachey (Committee Member); Dimitria Gatzia (Committee Member); Merri Rosen (Committee Member); Kevin Kaut (Committee Member) Subjects: Biochemistry; Biology; Cellular Biology; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Ophthalmology