The direction of image motion is coded by direction-selective (DS) ganglion cells in the retina. Particularly, the ON DS ganglion cells project their axons specifically to terminal nuclei of the accessory optic system (AOS) responsible for optokinetic reflex (OKR). We recently generated a knock-in mouse in which SPIG1 (SPARC-related protein containing immunoglobulin domains 1)-expressing cells ...

Nitric oxide (NO) influences electrophysiological and morphological parameters of the mammalian cochlea. Recently, the isoform of the NO-producing enzyme neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) has been demonstrated in spiral ganglion cells and olivocochlear neurons. The cochlea is also innervated by fibers stemming from the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Whether these gangl...

Segments from adult fish and rat retinae were explanted on myelinmarker expressing oligodendrocytes derived from the regenerating goldfish optic nerve. Fish axons grew in high density and even rat retinal axons regenerated to considerable length on the surface of the fish oligodendrocytes, suggesting that this type of fish glia has axon-growth promoting surface components that exert their influ...

A rule of retinal wiring is that many receptors converge onto fewer bipolar cells and still fewer ganglion cells. However, for each S cone in macaque fovea, there are two S-cone ON bipolar cells and two blue-yellow (BY) ganglion cells. To understand this apparent rule reversal, we reconstructed synaptic patterns of divergence and convergence and determined the basic three-tiered unit of connect...

Although anal cancers are up to four times more common in women than men, little is known about the natural history of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and HPV-related anal lesions in women. This study reports on the prevalence of and risks for anal cytological abnormalities over a 1-year period in a cohort of young women participating in a study of the natural history of cervical HPV...

Optic nerve transection results in the apoptotic cell death of the majority of retinal ganglion cells by 14 days. The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances survival of retinal ganglion cells. In addition, the small heat shock protein Hsp27, with its anti-apoptotic effects, may be important for neuron survival following axotomy or trophic factor withdrawal. We recently r...

In the present study, the light responses of ganglion cells to chromatic stimulus were recorded from isolated retina of neonatal chick. It was found that for some non-color-opponent ganglion cells, the spatiotemporal patterns of the cells' light responses were related to the chromatic information that they received. When stimulus with some chromatic component was applied, some ganglion cells wo...