SO Research Seminar - "Rod and cone signaling pathways in normal and diseased retinas"
Conference / Seminar
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Date
08 Nov 2024
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Organiser
School of Optometry
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Time
10:00 - 11:00
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Venue
Room AG710, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Map
Speaker
Prof. Samuel Wu
Summary
In the outer retina, rod and cone photoreceptors are electrically coupled and damage in one photoreceptor may affect others nearby. We used the newly available multiple patch electrode system to study electrical connectivity among coupled photoreceptors and have found how these cells transmit signals and how to prevent the spread of diseased molecules. In the inner retina, rod and cone signals are mixed by the A2 amacrine cells (AIIACs). We found that elevated intraocular pressure (H-IOP) in experimental glaucoma mouse models significantly decreased response sensitivity of subpopulations of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which receive rod-driven inputs from AIIACs. This RGC sensitivity loss is caused by defective synaptic transmission from rod bipolar cells to AIIACs and the pressure-sensitive BK channels in A17 amacrine cells are responsible for the synaptic dysfunction. Since the RGC sensitivity loss occurs at early stages of glaucoma prior to any irreversible structural damage, remedies at such stages may be more effective in disease prevention and treatment.
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Samuel Wu
Professor of Ophthalmology, Neuroscience and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics,
The Camille and Raymond Hankamer Chair in Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute
Baylor College of Medicine
Prof. Samuel Wu is a distinguished expert in Neuroscience and Biophysics. After earning his PhD at Harvard under Nobel nominee Prof. John E. Dowling, he joined Baylor College of Medicine, where he holds the Camille and Raymond Hankamer Chair in Ophthalmology and directs the Vision Research Training Program. Prof. Wu’s research, focusing on retinal neuroscience, has significantly advanced the understanding of photoreceptor signaling, inner retina organization, and disease mechanisms. With over 160 publications in top journals like Nature and Science, his work has earned continuous National Institutes of Health (NIH) support and prestigious awards, including the Friedenwald Award (2009), Ludwig von Sallmann Prize (2008), and James M. Barr Award (2005). As an educator, Prof. Wu has mentored over 50 students and 15 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have become independent scientists. He has delivered invited lectures worldwide and served as a visiting professor, exemplifying his commitment to advancing the field and inspiring the next generation of scientists.
