How the eye's light-sensing cells (rods and cones) send signals
Physiology of Photoreceptors
Researchers are measuring how rod and cone cells generate electrical signals to improve our understanding of vision and blindness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249539 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses mouse models to record electrical currents and voltages from cone photoreceptors, a technical advance that is now possible. Scientists will use mutant mouse strains to remove gap junctions and delete specific ion channels to see how those changes alter cone signaling and survival. They will also record from cones that are undergoing degeneration to learn what goes wrong as these cells die. The goal is to understand how inner-segment conductances shape outer-segment currents and produce the voltage signals our visual system uses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inherited or acquired rod or cone degenerations (for example, retinitis pigmentosa or cone dystrophy) would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People whose vision loss comes from non-retinal causes or those seeking an immediate therapy are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved knowledge of cone signaling could help guide new treatments to protect or restore vision for people with retinal degeneration.
How similar studies have performed: Many past studies clarified rod function, but routine simultaneous voltage and current recordings from intact mouse cones are relatively new and offer novel insights.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fain, Gordon Lee — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Fain, Gordon Lee
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.