A LARGE-SCALE MODEL OF THE RETINA FOR A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF GAP JUNCTIONS AND INTRACELLULAR MECHANISMS ON THE DYNAMICAL RANGE OF THE RETINA.

• Grant number: 10/16244-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2010
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Carlos Roque da Silva Filho
• Grantee: Rodrigo Publio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The presence of gap junctions between rod bipolar cells in the vertebrate retina is confirmed by recent experimental data and suggest the existence of a novel circuitry where the rod photoreceptor connects directly with the cone bipolar cells. The existence of this new pathway can be related with the large dynamical range observed on this system. In this project we plan to use the results obtained during the candidate's PhD to rebuild the entire network model to include all the new evidences. The new model will be used to study the synaptic and intracellular mechanisms involved in the enhancement of the dynamical range of the retina.