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Hendrickson, Anita, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
anitah@u.washington.edu
F-511a
543-5566
Our research group studies normal adult anatomy and the
developmental anatomy of human and monkey retina. One goal is to understand how the complex topography of adult foveate retina is generated
during development. We compare the temporal and spatial expression patterns of marker molecules confined to single
neuronal or glial populations to determine possible developmental interactions within a single population or
between populations. We have found a complex developmental pattern which is characteristic of each photoreceptor type.
Although rod photoreceptors become postmitotic well after red, green and blue cone photoreceptors in the same location, rod opsin
protein is found shortly before blue opsin and both are found well before red or green opsin. In contrast, all cones make synapses long
before rods form synapses. The significance of these developmental patterns is currently being tested using molecular probes to
determine factors causing the organization of the primate photoreceptor mosaic.
Another goal is to determine the developmental
pattern of inner retinal circuits which serve each type of photoreceptor. Cell and molecular markers as well as electron
microscopy and cell injection methods are being used to trace specific neuronal circuits in the adult and fetal retina. We plan
to use invitro recording of whole retinas to test physiologically the function of these circuits.
References
Hendrickson, A.
(1994) Primate foveal development: a microcosm of current questions in neurobiology. Invest. Ophth. Vis.Sci. 35:3129-3133
Dorn EM, Hendrickson LE and Hendrickson AE (1995) The appearance of rod opsin during monkey retinal development. Invst. Ophth. Vis.
Sci. 36:2634-2651
Robinson SR and Hendrickson A (1995) Shifting relationships between photoreceptors and pigment epithelial
cells in monkey retina: implications for the development of retinal topography. Vis. Neurosci.12: 767-778, 1995
Crooks J,
Okada M and Hendrickson AE (1995) Quantitative analysis of synaptogenesis in the inner plexiform layer of macaque monkey fovea. J.
Comp. Neurol. 360: 2349-2362.
Hendrickson AE (1996) Synaptic development in macaque monkey retina and its implications for other
developmental sequences. Perspectives in Developmental Neurobiology 3:`195-203
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