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Our primary research interest is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying
phototransduction and adaptation -
the conversion of light into a neural signal, and subsequent recovery, in retinal
rod and cone photoreceptors and in bipolar cells.
Much is already known about the 'activation' steps,
whereby light initiates a response, and interest has recently turned
to the complex mechanisms that enable the response to shut-off rapidly
and that permit the photoreceptor and subsequent neurons to adapt to
a wide range of intensities.
Several complementary approaches are being utilized:
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Suction pipette recordings from single photoreceptor
cells isolated from the retina (using normal and transgenic animals);
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Ganzfeld electroretinogram (ERG) recordings from
the eyes of human subjects;
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Multifocal ERG (mfERG) recordings from the eyes of
human subjects; and
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Mathematical modelling of the molecular steps known
to be involved.
Current topics of research interest include:
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The recovery of rod and cone photoreceptors at the
cessation of light exposure, measured by the ERG;
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Determination of photopigment levels by measurement
of the dim-flash ERG response;
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Elucidation of the shut-off mechanisms in cone photoreceptors,
using the suction pipette technique with cells from transgenic animals;
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Dark adaptation recovery of the photoreceptors
measured using the suction pipette technique;
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Dark adaptation recovery of the bipolar cells
in the human retina using the b-wave of the ERG;
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Modelling of the kinetics of human dark adaptation
following intense illumination.
Evolution of the vertebrate eye:
In collaboration with Shaun Collin (Unversity of Queensland)
and Ed Pugh (University of Pennsylvania), Trevor has recently embarked
on studies of the
evolution of the vertebrate eye.
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2007 Review of "Evolution of the Vertebrate
Eye" in Nature Reviews Neuroscience 8, 960-975.
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Ultrastructural studies of eyes, photoreceptors,
and bipolar cells from hagfish and lampreys
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Electrical recordings from hagfish photoreceptors
- Phyolgenetic analysis of hagfish
Editorial Boards:
Trevor is currently on the editorial advisory boards of
Contact
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Email
Trevor.Lamb@anu.edu.au
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Phone
(02) 6125 8929 (in Australia)
(612) 6125 8929 (overseas)
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Mail
Division of Neuroscience,
JCSMR, GPO Box 334
Canberra City ACT 2601
Australia
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