Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83843-3051   Phone: 208-885-8963 Fax: 208-885-7905 Email:dstenkam@uidaho.edu   Ph.D. 1993, Neuroscience Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine   RESEARCH INTERESTS: Developmental Genetics. RESEARCH SUMMARY: The Stenkamp lab is interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of vertebrate retinal development and regeneration, with specific focus on the differentiation and aging of photoreceptors and ganglion cells. Zebrafish are the primary experimental models used in the lab, since they develop rapidly, have multiple photoreceptor subtypes that can be easily identified, continue to grow new retinal tissue throughout life and can be manipulated genetically. The lab’s major area of investigation currently is the involvement of specific factors such as the signaling protein, sonic hedgehog and the Vitamin A derivative, retinoic acid, in regulating the differentiation of rod and cone photoreceptors. The aim is to better define the sources of these factors in the developing retina and determine their effects on photoreceptors and other retinal cells by using gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches, including the examination of specific zebrafish mutants and the creation of transgenic zebrafish with inducible genes. This project receives funding from the National Eye Institute. Two other projects in the lab are receiving support from two foundations: The Glaucoma Foundation, for the study of ganglion cell regeneration in zebrafish; and The American Health Assistance Foundation, for the pursuit of a zebrafish model for age-related macular degeneration. These are both exciting new directions for the laboratory as they apply knowledge of factors involved in development of retinal cells to the analysis and treatment of human visual disorders. REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS: Shupe JM, Kristan DM, Austad SN, Stenkamp DL. 2006. The eye of the laboratory mouse remains anatomically adapted for natural conditions. Brain, Behavior and Evolution. 67:39-52. Prabhudesai SN, Cameron DA, Stenkamp DL. 2005. Targeted effects of retinoic acid signaling upon photoreceptor development in zebrafish. Developmental Biology. 287(1):157-67. Stenkamp DL and Frey RA. (2003) Extraretinal and retinal hedgehog signaling sequentially regulate retinal differentiation in zebrafish. Dev Biol. 258:349-363. Stenkamp DL and Frey RA. 2002. Extraretinal and retinal hedgehog signaling sequentially regulate retinal neurogenesis in zebrafish. Developmental Biology. In press. Stenkamp DL, Frey RA, Mallory DE and Shupe EE. 2002. Embryonic retinal gene expression in sonic-you mutant zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics. 225:344-350. Stenkamp DL, Powers MK, Carney LH and Cameron DA. 2001. Evidence for two distinct mechanisms of neurogenesis and cellular pattern formation in regenerated goldfish retinas. Journal of Comparative neurology 431:363-381. Wan J and Stenkamp DL. 2000. Development of the goldfish cone photoreceptor mosaic is independent of rod neurogenesis and differentiation. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 423:227-242. Stenkamp DL, Frey RA, PrabhudesaiSA and Raymond PA. 2000. Function for hedgehog genes in zebrafish retinal development. Developmental Biology 220:238-252. Stenkamp DL, Cunningham LL, Raymond PA and Gonzales-Fernandez F. 1998. Novel expression pattern of interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP) in the adult and developing zebrafish retina and RPE. Molecular Vision 4:26 (22pp). Stenkamp DL, Barthel LK and Raymond PA. 1997. Spatiotemporal coordination of rod and cone differentiation in goldfish retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology 382:272-284. Rajendran RR, Van Neil EE, Stenkamp DL, Cunningham LL, Raymond PA and Gonzalez-Fernandez F. 1996. Differential circadian expression and molecular evolution of zebrafish interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP). Journal of Experimental Biology 199:2775-2787. Stenkamp DL, Hisatomi O, Barthel LK, Tokunaga F and Raymond PA. 1996. Temporal expression of rod and cone opsins in embryonic goldfish retina predicts the spatial organization of the cone mosaic. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 37:363-376. Hisatomi O, Satoh T, Barthel LK, Stenkamp DL, Raymond PA and Tokunaga F. 1996. Molecular cloning and characterization of the putative ultra violet-sensitive visual pigment of goldfish. Vision Research 36:933-939. Raymond PA, Barthel LK and Stenkamp DL. 1996. The zebrafish ultraviolet cone opsin reported previously is instead a rod opsin. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 37:948-950. Stenkamp DL, Iuvone PM and Adler R. 1994. Photomechanica movements of cultured embryonic photoreceptors: regulation by exogenous neuromodulators and by regulable source of endogenous dopamine. Journal of Neuroscience 14:3038-3096. Stenkamp DL and Adler R. 1994. Cell type- and developmental stage-specific metabolism and storage of retinoids in embryonic chick retinal cells in culture. Experimental Eye Research 58:675-687. Stenkamp DL, Gregory JK and Adler R. 1993. Retinoid effects in purified cultures of chick embryo retina neurons and photoreceptors. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 34:2425 ­ 2436. Stenkamp DL and Adler R. 1993. Photoreceptor differentiation of isolated retinal precursor cells includes the capacity for photomechanical responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 90:1982-1986.