Dr. Cindy Linn is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University whose interests concern the cellular mechanisms involved in visual processing in the vertebrate retina. A major focus in her lab deals with regeneration of adult neurons in the rodent retina triggered after activation of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. 

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Ongoing Project 1:  Adult mammalian retinal neurons do not typically regenerate. However, we have identified an agonist that induces robust regeneration of new retinal neurons in adult mice, including starburst amacrine cells, photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells. The characterization of this effect and the mechanisms that are responsible for regeneration are analyzed using adult transgenic mice. 

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Ongoing Project 2:  Current studies are designed to determine if regeneration of new retinal neurons using an alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist can replace the loss of retinal neurons associated with neurodegenerative diseases of the retina, including glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa. Along with anatomical evidence, electrophysiological recordings are obtained to determine the functional changes that occur in ERG recordings before and after regeneration is induced.    

 

Ongoing Project 3:  The adult mammalian retina is typically incapable of regeneration when damaged by blast exposure in combat conditions, disease or age. In one recent study of veterans with traumatic brain injury, 66% were diagnosed with ocular trauma, mostly due to blast exposure. Current studies in the lab are analyzing restoration of function after regeneration of new adult neurons in blast exposed rodent retinas. However, new retinal neurons are useless if they do not make synaptic connections that improve visual function and quality of life.   As a result, ERG recordings in adult mice are obtained before and after blast exposure to address any functional changes that result from regeneration after treatment with an alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist.  

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Studies from Linn's lab are funded by the National Institute of Health and by the Department of Defense.