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Stop Animal
Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe
out animal experimentation"
Government Grants Promoting Cruelty to Animals
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
MICHAEL J. MUSTARI - Primate Testing - 2006
Grant Number: 5R01EY006069-21 Project Title: Visual Processing and Smooth Eye Movements
PI Information: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MICHAEL J. MUSTARI,
[email protected]
Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):
Our studies are directed at defining the role of cortical-NOT and
cortical-DLPN pathways in the control of smooth pursuit, OKN and gaze
holding in visually-deprived monkeys compared to normally-reared
monkeys. The visual and oculomotor systems are not mature at birth in
either monkeys or humans. These systems develop in a synergistic fashion
during the first few months of life. The visual system depends on the
oculomotor system to hold the image of an object of interest relatively
stable on the retina, to allow clear, high acuity vision. The oculomotor
system relies on visual signals to provide error information for
calibration of oculomotor output. If binocular visual experience is
disrupted early in life, disorders in vision, gaze holding, eye
alignment and eye movements follow. These disorders are permanent and
difficult to treat. Our hypothesis is that visual afferent structures
including the pretectal nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and
dorsolateral pontine nucleus (DLPN) will be defective in cases with
pathological gaze holding and smooth pursuit eye movements. The NOT and
DLPN depend on inputs from the middle temporal (MT) and medial superior
temporal (MST) visual cortical areas for normal function. Our studies
are designed to manipulate early coordinated binocular visual experience
to provide an appropriate animal model to study alterations in
oculomotor circuits associated with congenital cataracts and strabismus.
Our preliminary data indicates that neurons in MT/MST and NOT are
differentially sensitive to various forms of early visual deprivation.
The neural substrate for latent nystagmus and defective smooth pursuit
will be investigated using single unit recording in awake, behaving
macaques. Eye movements will be measured precisely with an
electromagnetic method. Completion of our studies will improve the
diagnosis and treatment of disorders of vision, gaze holding and eye
movements in children.
Thesaurus Terms:
eye movement disorder, neural information processing, optic tract,
smooth pursuit eye movement, visual fixation, visual pathway binocular
vision, congenital eye disorder, neuron, neurophysiology, saccade,
vestibuloocular reflex, visual stimulus Macaca mulatta, behavioral
/social science research tag, brain mapping, electrode, experimental
brain lesion, single cell analysis, vision test
Institution: EMORY UNIVERSITY
1599 CLIFTON ROAD, 4TH FLOOR
ATLANTA, GA 30322
Fiscal Year: 2006
Department: NEUROLOGY
Project Start: 30-SEP-1990
Project End: 29-FEB-2008
ICD: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
IRG: VISB
J Neurophysiol 96: 2819-2825, 2006. First published June 21, 2006
Extraretinal Signals in MSTd Neurons Related to
Volitional Smooth Pursuit
Seiji Ono1 and Michael J. Mustari1,2
1Division of Sensory-Motor Systems,
Yerkes National Primate Research Center and 2Department
of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Submitted 19 May 2006; accepted in final form 14 June 2006
Surgical procedures
Behavioral and single unit data were collected from three normal
juvenile rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), weighing 5�7 kg. A detailed
description of most of our procedures can be found in earlier
publications (Mustari et al. 1988 , 1997 , 2001 ; Ono et al. 2004 ).
Surgical procedures, carried out under aseptic conditions using
isoflurane anesthesia (1.25�2.0%), were used to stereotaxically implant
a titanium head stabilization post and titanium or Cilux recording
chambers (Crist Instruments). In the same surgery, a scleral search coil
for measuring eye movements (Fuchs and Robinson 1966 ) was implanted
underneath the conjunctiva of one eye using the technique of Judge et
al. (1980) . All surgical procedures were performed in strict compliance
with National Institutes of Health guidelines, and the protocols were
reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
at Emory University.
Behavioral paradigms
During all experiments, monkeys were seated in a primate chair (Crist
Instruments) with their head stabilized in the horizontal stereotaxic
plane. Testing was conducted in a customized room that was made
completely dark.
* Fuchs and Robinson 1966
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Please email: MICHAEL J. MUSTARI,
[email protected] to protest the inhumane use of animals in this
experiment. We would also love to know about your efforts with this
cause:
[email protected]
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Rats, mice, birds, amphibians and other animals have
been excluded from coverage by the Animal Welfare Act. Therefore research
facility reports do not include these animals. As a result of this
situation, a blank report, or one with few animals listed, does not mean
that a facility has not performed experiments on non-reportable animals. A
blank form does mean that the facility in question has not used covered
animals (primates, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, pigs,
sheep, goats, etc.). Rats and mice alone are believed to comprise over 90%
of the animals used in experimentation. Therefore the majority of animals
used at research facilities are not even counted.
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