Journal article
The development of melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in mice with early retinal degeneration
The European journal of neuroscience, Vol.29(2), pp.359-367
01/2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/107603
PMCID: PMC2764118
PMID: 19200239
Abstract
In mammals, the neuronal pathways by which rod and cone photoreceptors mediate vision have been well documented. The roles that classical photoreceptors play in photoentrainment, however, have been less clear. In mammals, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) that express the photopigment melanopsin project directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, the site of the circadian clock, and thereby contribute to non-image forming responses to light. Classical photoreceptors are not necessary for photoentrainment since loss of rods and cones does not eliminate light entrainment. Conflicting evidence arose, however, when attenuated phase-shifting responses were observed in the retinal degenerate CBA/J mouse. In this study, we examined the time course of retinal degeneration in CBA/J mice and used these animals to determine if maturation of the outer retina regulates the morphology, number and distribution of ipRGCs. We also examined whether degeneration during the early development of the outer retina can alter the function of the adult circadian system. We report that dendritic stratification and distribution of ipRGCs was unaltered in mice with early retinal degeneration, suggesting that normal development of the outer retina was not necessary for these processes. We found, however, that adult CBA/J mice have greater numbers of ipRGCs than controls, implicating a role for the outer retinal photoreceptors in regulating developmental cell death of ipRGCs.
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Details
- Title
- The development of melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells in mice with early retinal degeneration
- Creators
- Linda Ruggiero - Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, L606, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland OR 97239, USACharles N Allen - Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, L606, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland OR 97239, USAR. Lane Brown - Department of Veterinary & Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USADavid W Robinson - Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, L606, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland OR 97239, USA
- Publication Details
- The European journal of neuroscience, Vol.29(2), pp.359-367
- Academic Unit
- Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of
- Identifiers
- 99900546747701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article