The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Department of Ophthalmology
The Department of Ophthalmology

Teaching

The Richard S. Ruiz, M.D. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of all.


Visual Neuroscience I

A team-taught course in the Neuroscience of Vision, emphasizing the neurons and circuits that participate in the first steps of vision. We will consider the anatomy, physiology and pharmacology of the retina from phototransduction to the ensemble firing patterns of retinal ganglion cells that convey the visual picture via the optic nerve.

Coordinator: Stephen Mills, Ph.D. 713-500-5998, MSB 7.228B
Date/Time: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Ophthalmology Conference Room, MSB 7.238

SCHEDULE

January 9

1. LIGHT AND VISION: Properties of light, optics, the evolution of eyes.
Dr. Mills
PowerPoint Presentation

 

January 11

2. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: Recording methods, passive and active membrane properties of neurons, chemical and electrical transmission.
Dr. Han

 

January 16

3. SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION: Neurotransmitter release, ribbon synapses, vesicles, calcium, synaptic proteins.
Dr. Heidelberger

 

January 18

4. PHOTORECEPTORS ANATOMY: Introduction: eye & retina, pigments, visual cycle cell biology and ultrastructure of rods and cones.
Dr. Carter-Dawson
Lecture Notes
PowerPoint Presentation

 

January 23

5. PROCESSING AT THE CONE PEDICLE: glutamate receptors, rod-cone coupling.
Dr. Massey
PowerPoint Presentation

 

January 25

6. PHOTORECEPTOR PHYSIOLOGY: Membrane potential, dark current, regulation of cGMP gated channels.
Dr. O'Brien
PowerPoint Presentation

 

January 30

7. PHOTOTRANSDUCTION I: PHOTOTRANSDUCTION I: Visual transduction cascade: amplification, activation/inactivation, regulation.
Dr. O'Brien
PowerPoint Presentation

 

February 1

8. PHOTOTRANSDUCTION II: Adaptation, differences between rods and cones.
Dr. O'Brien
PowerPoint Presentation

 

February 6

9. COLOR VISION I: Molecular biology of visual pigments, spectral tuning, accessory tuning mechanisms.
Dr. O'Brien
PowerPoint Presentation

 

February 8

EXAM I ON LECTURES 1-9

 

February 13

10. RETINAL DEGENERATION: Genetic Analysis.
Dr. Zhao

 

February 15

11. ZEBRAFISH MODELS OF RETINAL PROCESSING
Dr. Zhao

 

February 20

12. DEVELOPMENT OF THE RETINA I: Morphogenesis and molecular regulation.
Dr. Wang
PowerPoint Presentation

 

February 22

13. DEVELOPMENT OF THE RETINA II: Cell fate specification and molecular regulation.
Dr. Wang
PowerPoint Presentation

 

February 27

14. GLIAL CELLS: Structure and function, glutamate transport, glutamate metabolism.
Dr. Carter-Dawson
Lecture Notes
PowerPoint Presentation


March 1

15. ELECTRORETINOGRAM: Component analysis, origins, origin of b-wave, PERG, clinical diagnosis.
Dr. Frishman
PowerPoint Presentation

 

March 5-9

UT SPRING BREAK

 

March 13

16. HORIZONTAL CELLS: Morphology, connectivity, feedback.
Dr. Mills
PowerPoint Presentation

 

March 15 - **CANCELLED**

17. BIPOLAR CELLS I: Morphology, physiology, ON/OFF pathways, APB receptors, rod/cone pathways.
Dr. Mills

 

March 20

18. BIPOLAR CELLS II: connectivity, mammalian bipolar cell types, blue cone bipolar cells.
Dr. Mills
PowerPoint Presentation

 

March 22

19. AMACRINE CELLS I: Classification: anatomy and transmitter, feedback, circuits, rod pathways.
Dr. Massey
PowerPoint Presentation

 

March 27

20. AMACRINE CELLS II: Dopamine, modulation, NO.
DR. MARSHAK

 

March 29 - EXAM II
April 3

21. GANGLION CELLS: Classification, anatomy, connections.
Dr. Wang
PowerPoint Presentation

 

Apr 5

22. DIRECTIONAL SELECTIVITY: cholinergic amacrine cells, ON/OFF DS &ON DS ganglion cells, role of GABA, potential mechanisms.
DR. MASSEY

 

Apr 10

23. COLOR VISION: primate retina, midget ganglion cells, parasol ganglion cells, color circuitry, blue/yellow ganglion cells.
DR. MARSHAK

 

Apr 12

24. GANGLION CELL CIRCUITRY Receptive fields, physiology, inhibitory circuitry.
DR. MILLS
PowerPoint Presentation

 

Apr 17

25. GANGLION CELL DEATH: Glaucoma, excitotoxicity, role of glutamate, apoptosis.
DR. CARTER-DAWSON
PowerPoint Presentation

 

Apr 19

26. BEYOND THE RETINA: Central projections, LGN, superior colliculus, foveation, pupil control, eye movements.
DR. FELLEMAN

 

Apr 24

27. CORTICAL MECHANISMS OF SEEING
DR. FELLEMAN

 

Apr 26 or TBA FINAL EXAM

(May 1-5 Exam week, end of semester; ARVO May 6-10)