Morphological properties of chick retinal ganglion cells in relation to their central projections

Melanopsin-mediated optical entrainment regulates circadian rhythms in vertebrates

Melanopsin (OPN4) is a light-sensitive protein that plays a vital role in the regulation of circadian rhythms and other nonvisual functions. Current research on OPN4 has focused on mammals; more evidence is needed from non-mammalian vertebrates to fully assess the significance of the non-visual photosensitization of OPN4 for circadian rhythm regulation. There are species differences in the regulatory mechanisms of OPN4 for vertebrate circadian rhythms, which may be due to the differences in the cutting variants, tissue localization, and photosensitive activation pathway of OPN4. We here summarize the distribution of OPN4 in mammals, birds, and teleost fish, and the classical excitation mode for the non-visual photosensitive function of OPN4 in mammals is discussed. In addition, the role of OPN4-expressing cells in regulating circadian rhythm in different vertebrates is highlighted, and the potential rhythmic regulatory effects of various neuropeptides or neurotransmitters expressed in mammalian OPN4-expressing ganglion cells are summarized among them.

Effect of monochromatic light on circadian rhythmic expression of clock genes and arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase in chick retina

Birds have more developed visual function. They not only have the ability to detect light and darkness but also have the color vision. Previous study showed that monochromatic light influenced avian physiological processes, which were controlled by clock genes. Therefore, bird's eye is a good model to studying the impact of color of light on circadian rhythms. Avian retina is one of the most important central oscillations. The study was designed to investigate the effect of color of light on the expression of clock genes and arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) mRNA expression in chick retina. A total of 240 post-hatching day (P) 0 broiler chickens were exposed to blue (BL), green (GL), red (RL) and white light (WL) from a LED system under a light-dark cycle 12L:12D for 14 d. The results show that the significant daily variations existed in the gene expression of cBmal1, cBmal2, cCry1, cCry2, cPer2 and cPer3, but not for cClock under four light treatments. The genes cBmal1, cCry1, cPer2 and cPer3 presented circadian rhythmic expression under the various monochromatic lights. When compared with WL, GL elevated the expression of positive regulators of cellular clock (cBmal1, cBmal2 and cClock) and cAanat mRNA level, whereas RL increased the mRNA levels of negative regulators of cellular clock (cCry1, cCry2, cPer2 and cPer3) and decreased the cAanat mRNA expression in the retina. These results demonstrated that monochromatic light affect the periodic expression levels of the biological clock mRNA by positive and negative feedback loop interactions, GL activated the transcription of cAanat; while RL suppressed the transcription of cAanat. Thereby, color of light regulates ocular cAanat expression by affecting on expression of cellular clock regulators.

From the optic tectum to the primary visual cortex: migration through evolution of the saliency map for exogenous attentional guidance

Recent data have supported the hypothesis that, in primates, the primary visual cortex (V1) creates a saliency map from visual input. The exogenous guidance of attention is then realized by means of monosynaptic projections to the superior colliculus, which can select the most salient location as the target of a gaze shift. V1 is less prominent, or is even absent in lower vertebrates such as fish; whereas the superior colliculus, called optic tectum in lower vertebrates, also receives retinal input. I review the literature and propose that the saliency map has migrated from the tectum to V1 over evolution. In addition, attentional benefits manifested as cueing effects in humans should also be present in lower vertebrates.

Secretion pathway of liver IGF-1 via JAK2/STAT3 in chick embryo under the monochromatic light

This study reveals mechanism of monochromatic light on the IGF-1 secretion of chick embryo liver. The chick embryos were incubated and exposed to continuous red, green, blue light or a dark environment. Compared to other light-treated groups, green light increased IGF-1 and melatonin concentrations both in plasma and liver, and Mel1a, Mel1b and Mel1c receptors expressions in liver but decreased p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and ROS in liver. IGF-1 had a positive correlation with melatonin, but a negative relevance with p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. In vitro, the IGF-1 level in the hepatocyte supernatant was enhanced by melatonin with lower p-JAK2/p-STAT3 and ROS levels, which was suppressed by Mel1c antagonist but not Mel1a/Mel1b or Mel1b antagonists. AG490 (JAK/STAT inhibitor) promoted role of melatonin-Mel1c modulated IGF-1 secretion. These results suggest the antioxidant effect of melatonin mediated the green light-enhanced IGF-1 secretion of chick embryo liver through Mel1c receptor to inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Distribution of calcium-binding proteins in the pigeon visual thalamic centers and related pretectal and mesencephalic nuclei. Phylogenetic and functional determinants

Multichannel processing of environmental information constitutes a fundamental basis of functioning of sensory systems in the vertebrate brain. Two distinct parallel visual systems - the tectofugal and thalamofugal exist in all amniotes. The vertebrate central nervous system contains high concentrations of intracellular calcium-binding proteins (CaBPrs) and each of them has a restricted expression pattern in different brain regions and specific neuronal subpopulations. This study aimed at describing the patterns of distribution of parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin (CB) in the visual thalamic and mesencephalic centers of the pigeon (Columba livia). We used a combination of immunohistochemistry and double labeling immunofluorescent technique. Structures studied included the thalamic relay centers involved in the tectofugal (nucleus rotundus, Rot) and thalamofugal (nucleus geniculatus lateralis, pars dorsalis, GLd) visual pathways as well as pretectal, mesencephalic, isthmic and thalamic structures inducing the driver and/or modulatory action to the visual processing. We showed that neither of these proteins was unique to the Rot or GLd. The Rot contained i) numerous PV-immunoreactive (ir) neurons and a dense neuropil, and ii) a few CB-ir neurons mostly located in the anterior dorsal part and associated with a light neuropil. These latter neurons partially overlapped with the former and some of them colocalized both proteins. The distinct subnuclei of the GLd were also characterized by different patterns of distribution of CaBPrs. Some (nucleus dorsolateralis anterior, pars magnocellularis, DLAmc; pars lateralis, DLL; pars rostrolateralis, DLAlr; nucleus lateralis anterior thalami, LA) contained both CB- and PV-ir neurons in different proportions with a predominance of the former in the DLAmc and DLL. The nucleus lateralis dorsalis of nuclei optici principalis thalami only contained PV-ir neurons and a neuropil similar to the interstitial pretectal/thalamic nuclei of the tectothalamic tract, nucleus pretectalis and thalamic reticular nucleus. The overlapping distribution of PV and CB immunoreactivity was typical for the pretectal nucleus lentiformis mesencephali and the nucleus ectomamillaris as well as for the visual isthmic nuclei. The findings are discussed in the light of the contributive role of the phylogenetic and functional factors determining the circuits׳ specificity of the different CaBPr types.

Synaptic laminae in the visual system: molecular mechanisms forming layers of perception

Synaptic connections between neurons form the basis for perception and behavior. Synapses are often clustered in space, forming stereotyped layers. In the retina and optic tectum, multiple such synaptic laminae are stacked on top of each other, giving rise to stratified neuropil regions in which each layer combines synapses responsive to a particular sensory feature. Recently, several cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the development of multilaminar arrays of synapses have been discovered. These mechanisms include neurite guidance and cell-cell recognition. Molecules of the Slit, Semaphorin, Netrin, and Hedgehog families, binding to their matching receptors, bring axons and dendrites into spatial register. These guidance cues may diffuse over short distances or bind to sheets of extracellular matrix, thus conditioning the local extracellular milieu, or are presented on the surface of cells bordering the future neuropil. In addition, mutual recognition of axons and dendrites through adhesion molecules with immunoglobulin domains ensures cell type-specific connections within a given layer. Thus, an elaborate genetic program assembles the parallel processing channels that underlie visual perception.

Classification of nAChRβ2-immunoreactive retinal ganglion cells and their tectal projections in chicks

The relationship between the type of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) and the retinoreceptive layer of the tectum is investigated by the immunostaining of RGCs with nicotinic acetylcholine receptorβ2 (nAChRβ2) antibody and intracellular staining by DiI and also by anterograde degeneration and biotinylated dextran amine labeling of retinotectal fibers in chicks. The results strongly suggest that many of the RGCs that express immunoreactivity to nAChRβ2 send axons to tectal layer 7 and are mainly classified into the simple-type of Groups II and III, which contain the cells providing middle-sized to large dendritic fields with simple dendritic arborization. These nAChRβ2-immunoreactive RGCs receive visual information via the multiple sublayers of the inner plexiform layer.

Properties of mouse retinal ganglion cell dendritic growth during postnatal development

The property of dendritic growth dynamics during development is a subject of intense interest. Here, we investigated the dendritic motility of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during different developmental stages, using ex vivo mouse retina explant culture, Semliki Forest Virus transfection and time-lapse observations. The results illustrated that during development, the dendritic motility underwent a change from rapid growth to a relatively stable state, i.e., at P0 (day of birth), RGC dendrites were in a highly active state, whereas at postnatal 13 (P13) they were more stable, and at P3 and P8, the RGCs were in an intermediate state. At any given developmental stage, RGCs of different types displayed the same dendritic growth rate and extent. Since the mouse is the most popular mammalian model for genetic manipulation, this study provided a methodological foundation for further exploring the regulatory mechanisms of dendritic development.