Allan F. Wiechmann
Associate Professor, Department of Cell Biology
EDUCATION
B.S., Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California
Ph.D., Anatomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California
RESEARCH SUMMARY
The goal of our research is to advance our understanding of how circadian signals influence the health of ocular tissues, and to apply this knowledge to the treatment of human ocular disease. We have identified receptors for the circadian signaling molecule, melatonin in the retina and other ocular tissues, notably the sclera, ciliary epithelium, choroid, and corneal epithelium. We are attempting to identify the neurons of the inner retina that respond to nocturnal melatonin to alter the sensitivity of the retina to environmental light. This knowledge will give us a better understanding about how circadian rhythms affect retinal dark adaptation and sensitivity to light.
The surface of the corneal epithelium is a unique stratified epithelium that provides a crucial barrier to ocular infection, and has a major role in the maintenance of corneal transparency and homeostasis. The daily balance of corneal surface epithelium maturation and desquamation is a critical factor in maintaining the integrity of the barrier function. The intercellular junctions that comprise the barrier in the surface layer of cells must be actively disrupted on a daily basis to enable the surface cells to be shed as part of a renewal process, and the underlying layer of cells must then quickly form new intercellular junctions to maintain the integrity of the protective barrier. We have suggested that circadian signals, mediated via activation of melatonin receptors on the corneal epithelium, orchestrate the temporal sequence of activities required for the daily shedding and maturation of the surface cells. We are employing a variety of molecular and cellular approaches to investigate the mechanisms by which junctional barriers are degraded and re-established on a daily basis. These studies may help to develop new therapeutic strategies to enhance barrier function of corneas recovering from injury or disease.
PUBLICATIONS
Wiechmann AF, X-L Yang, SM Wu and JG Hollyfield (1988) Melatonin enhances horizontal cell sensitivity in salamander retina. Brain Res, 453: 377-380.
Wiechmann AF and WK O'Steen (1992) Melatonin increases photoreceptor susceptibility to light-induced damage. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci, 33: 1894-1902.
Wiechmann AF and Smith AR (2001) Melatonin receptor RNA is expressed in photoreceptors and displays a cyclic rhythm in Xenopus retina. Mol Brain Res, 91: 104-111.
Wiechmann AF, Komori N and H Matsumoto (2002) Melatonin induces alterations in protein expression in the Xenopus laevis retina. J Pineal Res 32:270-274.
Wiechmann AF (2002) Regulation of gene expression by melatonin: A microarray survey of the rat retina. J Pineal Res.33:178-185.
Wiechmann AF (2003) Differential distribution of melatonin Mel1a and Mel1c receptors in Xenopus laevis retina. Exp Eye Res. 76:99-106.
Wiechmann AF and Rada JA (2003) Melatonin receptors expression in the cornea and sclera. Exp Eye Res 77:219-225.
Wiechmann AF, Vrieze, MJ, Dighe RK and Hu Y (2003) Direct modulation of rod photoreceptor responsiveness through a Mel1c melatonin receptor in transgenic Xenopus laevis retina. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 44:4522-4531.
Wiechmann AF, Udin SB and Summers Rada JA (2004) Localization of Mel1b melatonin receptor-like immunoreactivity in ocular tissues of Xenopus laevis. Exp Eye Res 79:585-594.
Summers Rada JA and Wiechmann AF (2006) Melatonin receptors in chick ocular tissues: Implications for a role of melatonin in ocular growth regulation. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 37:25-33.
Wiechmann AF, Chignell CF and Roberts JE (2008) Influence of dietary melatonin on photoreceptor survival in the rat retina: An ocular toxicity study. Exp Eye Res 86:241-250.
Wiechmann AF and Summers JA (2008) Circadian rhythms in the eye: The physiological significance of melatonin receptors in ocular tissues. [invited review]. Prog Ret Eye Res 27:137-160.
Wiechmann AF, Hollaway LR and Summers Rada JA (2009) Melatonin receptor expression inXenopus laevis surface corneal epithelium: Diurnal rhythm of lateral membrane localization. Mol Vision15:2384-2403.
Wiechmann AF and Sherry DM (2012) Melatonin receptors are anatomically organized to modulate transmission specifically to cone pathways in the retina of Xenopus laevis. J Comp Neurol 520:1115-1127.
MAILING ADDRESS
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Department of Cell Biology
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901
Phone: (405) 271-8001 ext. 45522
Fax: (405) 271-3548
Allan-Wiechmann@ouhsc.edu