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Shindo M, Terao M, Takada S, Ichinose M, Matsuzaka E, Yokoi T, Azuma N, Mizuno S, Tsumura H. Establishment and visual analysis of CBA/J-Pde6b Y347Y/Y347X and C3H/HeJ-Pde6b Y347Y/Y347X mice. Exp Anim 2024; 73:203-210. [PMID: 38171880 PMCID: PMC11091356 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.23-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In CBA/J and C3H/HeJ mice, retinitis pigmentosa is inherited as an autosomal-recessive trait due to a mutation in Pde6b, which encodes cGMP phosphodiesterase subunit b. In these strains, the Y347X mutation in Pde6b leads to the upregulation of cGMP levels, increased Ca2+ influx induces rod death, and the outer segment and rod cells entirely disappeared by 35 days after birth. In the present study, we utilized the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9-mediated gene editing to repair the Y347X mutation in CBA/J and C3H/HeJ mice. Evaluation of the established CBA/J-Pde6bY347Y/Y347X and C3H/HeJ-Pde6bY347Y/Y347X mice, which were confirmed to have normal retinal layers by live fundoscopic imaging and histopathological analysis, revealed improved visual acuity based on the visual cliff and light/dark latency tests. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that the visible platform test was a more effective tool for testing visual behavior in these mice. The results suggest that the established strains can serve as control groups for CBA/J and C3H/HeJ in ophthalmology studies involving retinitis pigmentosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Shindo
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Miho Terao
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Shuji Takada
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Minoru Ichinose
- Department of Reproductive Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Emiko Matsuzaka
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Tadashi Yokoi
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Azuma
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hideki Tsumura
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
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Johnson LL, Abrahante JE, McLoon LK. Nystagmus in the B6(CG)Tyr(c-2J)/J Albino Mouse: A Functional and RNA-Seq Analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:26. [PMID: 38206276 PMCID: PMC10787582 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.1.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) is a gaze-holding disorder characterized by conjugate, uncontrolled eye oscillations that can result in significant visual acuity loss. INS is often associated with albinism, but the mechanism is unclear. Albino mice have nystagmus; however, a pigmented mouse with a tyr mutation making it phenotypically albino, the B6(CG)-Tyr(c-2J)/J (B6 albino), had not been tested. We tested optokinetic response (OKR) in B6 albino and control mice. RNA-Seq was performed on extraocular muscles (EOM), tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, abducens (CN6), and oculomotor (CN3) neurons to uncover molecular differences that may contribute to nystagmus. Methods OKR was measured using an ISCAN system. RNA was isolated from four tissues to identify differentially expressed genes and validated with qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Ingenuity pathway analyses identified top biological pathways. Results All B6 albino mice tested had nystagmus. Differential RNA expression analysis showed 383 genes differentially expressed in EOM, 70 in CN3, 20 in CN6, and 639 in the TA. Two genes were differentially expressed in all four tissues: wdfy1 and nnt. Differences were validated by qPCR and immunostaining. Conclusions The tyr mutation in B6 albino mice, genotypically pigmented and phenotypically albino, is sufficient to result in spontaneous nystagmus. The two genes with decreased expression in the B6 albino tissues examined, wdfy1 and nnt, have been implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction and stem cell maintenance in other systems. Their function in extraocular muscle is unknown. These studies suggest that this mouse model of nystagmus may allow molecular identification of candidate nystagmus-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L. Johnson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Graduate Program in Cellular, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Juan E. Abrahante
- University of Minnesota Informatics Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Linda K. McLoon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Graduate Program in Cellular, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
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Boissonnet T, Tripodi M, Asari H. Awake responses suggest inefficient dense coding in the mouse retina. eLife 2023; 12:e78005. [PMID: 37922200 PMCID: PMC10624425 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The structure and function of the vertebrate retina have been extensively studied across species with an isolated, ex vivo preparation. Retinal function in vivo, however, remains elusive, especially in awake animals. Here, we performed single-unit extracellular recordings in the optic tract of head-fixed mice to compare the output of awake, anesthetized, and ex vivo retinas. While the visual response properties were overall similar across conditions, we found that awake retinal output had in general (1) faster kinetics with less variability in the response latencies; (2) a larger dynamic range; and (3) higher firing activity, by ~20 Hz on average, for both baseline and visually evoked responses. Our modeling analyses further showed that such awake response patterns convey comparable total information but less efficiently, and allow for a linear population decoder to perform significantly better than the anesthetized or ex vivo responses. These results highlight distinct retinal behavior in awake states, in particular suggesting that the retina employs dense coding in vivo, rather than sparse efficient coding as has been often assumed from ex vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Boissonnet
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology LaboratoryMonterotondoItaly
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut des NeurosciencesLa TroncheFrance
| | - Matteo Tripodi
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology LaboratoryMonterotondoItaly
| | - Hiroki Asari
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology LaboratoryMonterotondoItaly
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Ahn SY, Jung EH, Ahn H, Lee JS, Bak JH, Kim ED, Song JH, Shin HS, Jamiyansharav M, Seo KY. Automatic measurement of mouse visual acuity based on optomotor response: SKY optomotry. Lab Anim 2023; 57:412-423. [PMID: 36708198 DOI: 10.1177/00236772221148576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
In the field of visual science study using rodents, several assessment methods have been developed for measuring visual function. However, methods such as electroretinograms tests, visual evoked potentials tests and maze tests have limitations in that they measure function of only a specific type of cells, are difficult to quantify or require sufficient training time. The method which uses an optokinetic reflex and optomotor response, a compensatory eye and head movement in response to changes in the visual scene, became the most widely used method. However, this method requires highly trained experimenters and is time consuming. We showed that measured visual acuity values are significantly different between beginner and expert. Here we suggest an automated optometry program, 'SKY optomotry', which automatically tracks rodents' optomotor response to overcome subjectivity and the lengthy scoring procedure of the existing method. To evaluate the performance of SKY optomotry using 8-12-week-old C57BL/6 mice we compared the binomial decision of SKY optomotry with a skilled expert, and the area under the curve of SKY optomotry was 0.845. Comparing the final visual acuity, the intraclass correlation coefficient value between SKY optomotry and an expert was 0.860 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.709-0.928), whereas that between an expert and a beginner was 0.642 (95% CI 0.292-0.811). SKY optomotry showed an excellent level of performance with good inter-rater agreements based on the visual acuity measured by an expert. With the use of our application, researchers will be able to test an experimental animal's eyesight more accurately while saving time on specialized training.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Yeon Ahn
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Hye Jung
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunmin Ahn
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihei Sara Lee
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Hyeon Bak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-do Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA
| | - Ja-Hyun Song
- Korea Mouse Sensory Phenotyping Center (KMSPC), Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Sol Shin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
- Korea Mouse Sensory Phenotyping Center (KMSPC), Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Kyoung Yul Seo
- Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
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Wang Y, Qin WY, Wang Q, Liu XN, Li XH, Ye XQ, Bai Y, Zhang Y, Liu P, Wang XL, Zhou YH, Shao ZB, Yuan HP. Young Sca-1 + bone marrow stem cell-derived exosomes preserve visual function via the miR-150-5p/MEKK3/JNK/c-Jun pathway to reduce M1 microglial polarization. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:194. [PMID: 37322478 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-01944-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polarization of microglia, the resident retinal immune cells, plays important roles in mediating both injury and repair responses post-retinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is one of the main pathological mechanisms behind ganglion cell apoptosis. Aging could perturb microglial balances, resulting in lowered post-I/R retinal repair. Young bone marrow (BM) stem cell antigen 1-positive (Sca-1+) cells have been demonstrated to have higher reparative capabilities post-I/R retinal injury when transplanted into old mice, where they were able to home and differentiate into retinal microglia. METHODS Exosomes were enriched from young Sca-1+ or Sca-1- cells, and injected into the vitreous humor of old mice post-retinal I/R. Bioinformatics analyses, including miRNA sequencing, was used to analyze exosome contents, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Western blot was then performed to examine expression levels of inflammatory factors and underlying signaling pathway proteins, while immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the extent of pro-inflammatory M1 microglial polarization. Fluoro-Gold labelling was then utilized to identify viable ganglion cells, while H&E staining was used to examine retinal morphology post-I/R and exosome treatment. RESULTS Sca-1+ exosome-injected mice yielded better visual functional preservation and lowered inflammatory factors, compared to Sca-1-, at days 1, 3, and 7 days post-I/R. miRNA sequencing found that Sca-1+ exosomes had higher miR-150-5p levels, compared to Sca-1- exosomes, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Mechanistic analysis found that miR-150-5p from Sca-1+ exosomes repressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3)/JNK/c-Jun axis, leading to IL-6 and TNF-α downregulation, and subsequently reduced microglial polarization, all of which contributes to reduced ganglion cell apoptosis and preservation of proper retinal morphology. CONCLUSION This study elucidates a potential new therapeutic approach for neuroprotection against I/R injury, via delivering miR-150-5p-enriched Sca-1+ exosomes, which targets the miR-150-5p/MEKK3/JNK/c-Jun axis, thereby serving as a cell-free remedy for treating retinal I/R injury and preserving visual functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wan-Yun Qin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- The Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Harbin Medical University, Ministry Education, Harbin, China
| | - Xin-Na Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- The Key Laboratory of Myocardial Ischemia, Harbin Medical University, Ministry Education, Harbin, China
| | - Xiang-Hui Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xin-Qi Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ying Bai
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Pan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xin-Lin Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu-Hang Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zheng-Bo Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
- Future Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Hui-Ping Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
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Zeitz C, Roger JE, Audo I, Michiels C, Sánchez-Farías N, Varin J, Frederiksen H, Wilmet B, Callebert J, Gimenez ML, Bouzidi N, Blond F, Guilllonneau X, Fouquet S, Léveillard T, Smirnov V, Vincent A, Héon E, Sahel JA, Kloeckener-Gruissem B, Sennlaub F, Morgans CW, Duvoisin RM, Tkatchenko AV, Picaud S. Shedding light on myopia by studying complete congenital stationary night blindness. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 93:101155. [PMID: 36669906 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Myopia is the most common eye disorder, caused by heterogeneous genetic and environmental factors. Rare progressive and stationary inherited retinal disorders are often associated with high myopia. Genes implicated in myopia encode proteins involved in a variety of biological processes including eye morphogenesis, extracellular matrix organization, visual perception, circadian rhythms, and retinal signaling. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in animal models mimicking myopia are helpful in suggesting candidate genes implicated in human myopia. Complete congenital stationary night blindness (cCSNB) in humans and animal models represents an ON-bipolar cell signal transmission defect and is also associated with high myopia. Thus, it represents also an interesting model to identify myopia-related genes, as well as disease mechanisms. While the origin of night blindness is molecularly well established, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of myopia development in subjects with cCSNB. Using whole transcriptome analysis on three different mouse models of cCSNB (in Gpr179-/-, Lrit3-/- and Grm6-/-), we identified novel actors of the retinal signaling cascade, which are also novel candidate genes for myopia. Meta-analysis of our transcriptomic data with published transcriptomic databases and genome-wide association studies from myopia cases led us to propose new biological/cellular processes/mechanisms potentially at the origin of myopia in cCSNB subjects. The results provide a foundation to guide the development of pharmacological myopia therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Zeitz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.
| | - Jérome E Roger
- Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, CERTO-Retina France, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Saclay, France
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Juliette Varin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Helen Frederiksen
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Baptiste Wilmet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Callebert
- Service of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, INSERM U942, Hospital Lariboisière, APHP, Paris, France
| | | | - Nassima Bouzidi
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Frederic Blond
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Stéphane Fouquet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Vasily Smirnov
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Ajoy Vincent
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elise Héon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France; CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France; Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Florian Sennlaub
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Catherine W Morgans
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Robert M Duvoisin
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Andrei V Tkatchenko
- Oujiang Laboratory, Zhejiang Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health, Wenzhou, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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Mansouri V. X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa Gene Therapy: Preclinical Aspects. Ophthalmol Ther 2022; 12:7-34. [PMID: 36346573 PMCID: PMC9641696 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-022-00602-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common inherited eye disease is retinitis pigmentosa (RP). X-linked RP (XLRP) is one of the most severe types of RP, with a considerable disease burden. Patients with XLRP experience a decrease in their vision and become blind in their 4th decade of life, causing much morbidity after starting a rather normal life. Treatment of XLRP remains challenging, and current treatments are not effective enough in restoring vision. Gene therapy of XLRP, capable of restoring the functional RPGR gene, showed promising results in preclinical studies and clinical trials; however, to date, no approved product has entered the market. The development of a gene therapy product needs through preliminary assessment of the drug in animal models before administration to humans. In this article, we reviewed the genetic pathology of XLRP, along with the preclinical aspects of the XLRP gene therapy, animal models, associated assessments, and future challenges and directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Mansouri
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Phenotype Characterization of a Mice Genetic Model of Absolute Blindness. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158152. [PMID: 35897728 PMCID: PMC9331777 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technological development requires new approaches to address the problem of blindness. Such approaches need to be able to ensure that no cells with photosensitive capability remain in the retina. The presented model, Opn4−/− × Pde6brd10/rd10 (O×Rd) double mutant murine, is a combination of a mutation in the Pde6b gene (photoreceptor degeneration) together with a deletion of the Opn4 gene (responsible for the expression of melanopsin in the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells). This model has been characterized and compared with those of WT mice and murine animal models displaying both mutations separately. A total loss of pupillary reflex was observed. Likewise, behavioral tests demonstrated loss of rejection to illuminated spaces and a complete decrease in visual acuity (optomotor test). Functional recordings showed an absolute disappearance of various wave components of the full-field and pattern electroretinogram (fERG, pERG). Likewise, visual evoked potential (VEP) could not be recorded. Immunohistochemical staining showed marked degeneration of the outer retinal layers and the absence of melanopsin staining. The combination of both mutations has generated an animal model that does not show any photosensitive element in its retina. This model is a potential tool for the study of new ophthalmological approaches such as optosensitive agents.
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9
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Insulin receptor activation by proinsulin preserves synapses and vision in retinitis pigmentosa. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:383. [PMID: 35444190 PMCID: PMC9021205 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04839-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Synaptic loss, neuronal death, and circuit remodeling are common features of central nervous system neurodegenerative disorders. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the leading cause of inherited blindness, is a group of retinal dystrophies characterized by photoreceptor dysfunction and death. The insulin receptor, a key controller of metabolism, also regulates neuronal survival and synaptic formation, maintenance, and activity. Indeed, deficient insulin receptor signaling has been implicated in several brain neurodegenerative pathologies. We present evidence linking impaired insulin receptor signaling with RP. We describe a selective decrease in the levels of the insulin receptor and its downstream effector phospho-S6 in retinal horizontal cell terminals in the rd10 mouse model of RP, as well as aberrant synapses between rod photoreceptors and the postsynaptic terminals of horizontal and bipolar cells. A gene therapy strategy to induce sustained proinsulin, the insulin precursor, production restored retinal insulin receptor signaling, by increasing S6 phosphorylation, without peripheral metabolic consequences. Moreover, proinsulin preserved photoreceptor synaptic connectivity and prolonged visual function in electroretinogram and optomotor tests. These findings point to a disease-modifying role of insulin receptor and support the therapeutic potential of proinsulin in retinitis pigmentosa.
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Yan J, Li Y, Zhang T, Shen Y. Numb deficiency impairs retinal structure and visual function in mice. Exp Eye Res 2022; 219:109066. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Reh M, Lee M, Zeck G. Expression of Channelrhodopsin‐2 in Rod Bipolar Cells Restores ON and OFF Responses at High Spatial Resolution in Blind Mouse Retina. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202100164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Reh
- Neurophysics NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen 72770 Reutlingen Germany
- Graduate School of Neural Information Processing/ International Max Planck Research School Tübingen Germany
| | - Meng‐Jung Lee
- Neurophysics NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen 72770 Reutlingen Germany
- Graduate School of Neural Information Processing/ International Max Planck Research School Tübingen Germany
| | - Günther Zeck
- Neurophysics NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen 72770 Reutlingen Germany
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics TU Wien 1040 Vienna Austria
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12
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Poh EZ, Green C, Agostinelli L, Penrose-Menz M, Karl AK, Harvey AR, Rodger J. Manipulating the Level of Sensorimotor Stimulation during LI-rTMS Can Improve Visual Circuit Reorganisation in Adult Ephrin-A2A5 -/- Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052418. [PMID: 35269561 PMCID: PMC8910719 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has the potential to treat a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The extent of rTMS-induced neuroplasticity may be dependent on a subject's brain state at the time of stimulation. Chronic low intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) has previously been shown to induce beneficial structural and functional reorganisation within the abnormal visual circuits of ephrin-A2A5-/- mice in ambient lighting. Here, we administered chronic LI-rTMS in adult ephrin-A2A5-/- mice either in a dark environment or concurrently with voluntary locomotion. One day after the last stimulation session, optokinetic responses were assessed and fluorescent tracers were injected to map corticotectal and geniculocortical projections. We found that LI-rTMS in either treatment condition refined the geniculocortical map. Corticotectal projections were improved in locomotion+LI-rTMS subjects, but not in dark + LI-rTMS and sham groups. Visuomotor behaviour was not improved in any condition. Our results suggest that the beneficial reorganisation of abnormal visual circuits by rTMS can be significantly influenced by simultaneous, ambient visual input and is enhanced by concomitant physical exercise. Furthermore, the observed pathway-specific effects suggest that regional molecular changes and/or the relative proximity of terminals to the induced electric fields influence the outcomes of LI-rTMS on abnormal circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Z. Poh
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (E.Z.P.); (M.P.-M.); (A.-K.K.)
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (C.G.); (L.A.); (A.R.H.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Research, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Courtney Green
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (C.G.); (L.A.); (A.R.H.)
| | - Luca Agostinelli
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (C.G.); (L.A.); (A.R.H.)
| | - Marissa Penrose-Menz
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (E.Z.P.); (M.P.-M.); (A.-K.K.)
| | - Ann-Kathrin Karl
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (E.Z.P.); (M.P.-M.); (A.-K.K.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alan R. Harvey
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (C.G.); (L.A.); (A.R.H.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Research, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jennifer Rodger
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; (E.Z.P.); (M.P.-M.); (A.-K.K.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Research, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-8-6488-2245
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13
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Stofkova A, Zloh M, Andreanska D, Fiserova I, Kubovciak J, Hejda J, Kutilek P, Murakami M. Depletion of Retinal Dopaminergic Activity in a Mouse Model of Rod Dysfunction Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis: A Role for the Gateway Reflex. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010453. [PMID: 35008877 PMCID: PMC8745287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The gateway reflex is a mechanism by which neural inputs regulate chemokine expression at endothelial cell barriers, thereby establishing gateways for the invasion of autoreactive T cells into barrier-protected tissues. In this study, we hypothesized that rod photoreceptor dysfunction causes remodeling of retinal neural activity, which influences the blood–retinal barrier and the development of retinal inflammation. We evaluated this hypothesis using Gnat1rd17 mice, a model of night blindness with late-onset rod-cone dystrophy, and experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). Retinal remodeling and its effect on EAU development were investigated by transcriptome profiling, target identification, and functional validation. We showed that Gnat1rd17 mice primarily underwent alterations in their retinal dopaminergic system, triggering the development of an exacerbated EAU, which was counteracted by dopamine replacement with L-DOPA administered either systemically or locally. Remarkably, dopamine acted on retinal endothelial cells to inhibit NF-κB and STAT3 activity and the expression of downstream target genes such as chemokines involved in T cell recruitment. These results suggest that rod-mediated dopamine release functions in a gateway reflex manner in the homeostatic control of immune cell entry into the retina, and the loss of retinal dopaminergic activity in conditions associated with rod dysfunction increases the susceptibility to autoimmune uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stofkova
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-224-902-718
| | - Miloslav Zloh
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
| | - Dominika Andreanska
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
| | - Ivana Fiserova
- Department of Physiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 4, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.Z.); (D.A.); (I.F.)
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruska 87, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kubovciak
- Laboratory of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Jan Hejda
- Department of Health Care and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Sitna Sq. 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (P.K.)
| | - Patrik Kutilek
- Department of Health Care and Population Protection, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Sitna Sq. 3105, 272 01 Kladno, Czech Republic; (J.H.); (P.K.)
| | - Masaaki Murakami
- Division of Molecular Psychoimmunology, Institute for Genetic Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0815, Japan;
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14
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Caves EM, de Busserolles F, Kelley LA. Sex differences in behavioural and anatomical estimates of visual acuity in the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:273770. [PMID: 34787303 PMCID: PMC8729911 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Among fishes in the family Poeciliidae, signals such as colour patterns, ornaments and courtship displays play important roles in mate choice and male–male competition. Despite this, visual capabilities in poeciliids are understudied, in particular, visual acuity, the ability to resolve detail. We used three methods to quantify visual acuity in male and female green swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri), a species in which body size and the length of the male's extended caudal fin (‘sword’) serve as assessment signals during mate choice and agonistic encounters. Topographic distribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was similar in all individuals and was characterized by areas of high cell densities located centro-temporally and nasally, as well as a weak horizontal streak. Based on the peak density of RGCs in the centro-temporal area, anatomical acuity was estimated to be approximately 3 cycles per degree (cpd) in both sexes. However, a behavioural optomotor assay found significantly lower mean acuity in males (0.8 cpd) than females (3.0 cpd), which was not explained by differences in eye size between males and females. An additional behavioural assay, in which we trained individuals to discriminate striped gratings from grey stimuli of the same mean luminance, also showed lower acuity in males (1–2 cpd) than females (2–3 cpd). Thus, although retinal anatomy predicts identical acuity in males and females, two behavioural assays found higher acuity in females than males, a sexual dimorphism that is rare outside of invertebrates. Overall, our results have implications for understanding how poeciliids perceive visual signals during mate choice and agonistic encounters. Summary: Anatomical and behavioural quantification of visual acuity (spatial resolving power) in green swordtails indicates that acuity was anatomically identical in both sexes, but behaviourally higher in females, with implications for signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M Caves
- University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Penryn, UK.,University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura A Kelley
- University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Penryn, UK
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15
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Jagomäe T, Seppa K, Reimets R, Pastak M, Plaas M, Hickey MA, Kukker KG, Moons L, De Groef L, Vasar E, Kaasik A, Terasmaa A, Plaas M. Early Intervention and Lifelong Treatment with GLP1 Receptor Agonist Liraglutide in a Wolfram Syndrome Rat Model with an Emphasis on Visual Neurodegeneration, Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Diabetic Phenotype. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113193. [PMID: 34831417 PMCID: PMC8623088 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolfram syndrome (WS), also known as a DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, early-onset diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy and deafness) is a rare autosomal disorder caused by mutations in the Wolframin1 (WFS1) gene. Previous studies have revealed that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1 RA) are effective in delaying and restoring blood glucose control in WS animal models and patients. The GLP1 RA liraglutide has also been shown to have neuroprotective properties in aged WS rats. WS is an early-onset, chronic condition. Therefore, early diagnosis and lifelong pharmacological treatment is the best solution to control disease progression. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the long-term liraglutide treatment on the progression of WS symptoms. For this purpose, 2-month-old WS rats were treated with liraglutide up to the age of 18 months and changes in diabetes markers, visual acuity, and hearing sensitivity were monitored over the course of the treatment period. We found that treatment with liraglutide delayed the onset of diabetes and protected against vision loss in a rat model of WS. Therefore, early diagnosis and prophylactic treatment with the liraglutide may also prove to be a promising treatment option for WS patients by increasing the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toomas Jagomäe
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14B Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.S.); (R.R.); (K.G.K.); (A.T.)
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
- Correspondence: (T.J.); (M.P.)
| | - Kadri Seppa
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14B Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.S.); (R.R.); (K.G.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Riin Reimets
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14B Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.S.); (R.R.); (K.G.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Marko Pastak
- Eye Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, L. Puusepa 8 Street, 50406 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Mihkel Plaas
- Ear Clinic of Tartu University Hospital, L. Puusepa 1a Street, 50406 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Miriam A. Hickey
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (M.A.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Kaia Grete Kukker
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14B Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.S.); (R.R.); (K.G.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Lieve Moons
- Research Group Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, Belgium & Leuven Brain Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.M.); (L.D.G.)
| | - Lies De Groef
- Research Group Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration, Department of Biology, Belgium & Leuven Brain Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 61, Box 2464, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.M.); (L.D.G.)
| | - Eero Vasar
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Allen Kaasik
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (M.A.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Anton Terasmaa
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14B Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.S.); (R.R.); (K.G.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Mario Plaas
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 14B Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.S.); (R.R.); (K.G.K.); (A.T.)
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 19 Ravila Street, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
- Correspondence: (T.J.); (M.P.)
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16
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Varin J, Bouzidi N, Gauvain G, Joffrois C, Desrosiers M, Robert C, De Sousa Dias MM, Neuillé M, Michiels C, Nassisi M, Sahel JA, Picaud S, Audo I, Dalkara D, Zeitz C. Substantial restoration of night vision in adult mice with congenital stationary night blindness. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 22:15-25. [PMID: 34401402 PMCID: PMC8339357 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Complete congenital stationary night blindness (cCSNB) due to mutations in TRPM1, GRM6, GPR179, NYX, or leucine-rich repeat immunoglobulin-like transmembrane domain 3 (LRIT3) is an incurable inherited retinal disorder characterized by an ON-bipolar cell (ON-BC) defect. Since the disease is non-degenerative and stable, treatment could theoretically be administrated at any time in life, making it a promising target for gene therapy. Until now, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated therapies lead to significant functional improvements only in newborn cCSNB mice. Here we aimed to restore protein localization and function in adult Lrit3 -/ - mice. LRIT3 localizes in the outer plexiform layer and is crucial for TRPM1 localization at the dendritic tips of ON-BCs and the electroretinogram (ERG)-b-wave. AAV2-7m8-Lrit3 intravitreal injections were performed targeting either ON-BCs, photoreceptors (PRs), or both. Protein localization of LRIT3 and TRPM1 at the rod-to-rod BC synapse, functional rescue of scotopic responses, and ON-responses detection at the ganglion cell level were achieved in a few mice when ON-BCs alone or both PRs and ON-BCs, were targeted. More importantly, a significant number of treated adult Lrit3 -/- mice revealed an ERG b-wave recovery under scotopic conditions, improved optomotor responses, and on-time ON-responses at the ganglion cell level when PRs were targeted. Functional rescue was maintained for at least 4 months after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Varin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Nassima Bouzidi
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Gregory Gauvain
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Corentin Joffrois
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Camille Robert
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Marion Neuillé
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | | | - Marco Nassisi
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France.,Academie des Sciences, Institut de France, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Serge Picaud
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Audo
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Institute of Ophthalmology, University College of London, London, UK
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - Christina Zeitz
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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17
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Wang SK, Xue Y, Cepko CL. Augmentation of CD47/SIRPα signaling protects cones in genetic models of retinal degeneration. JCI Insight 2021; 6:150796. [PMID: 34197341 PMCID: PMC8409989 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), can be caused by thousands of different mutations, a small number of which have been successfully treated with gene replacement. However, this approach has yet to scale and may not be feasible in many cases, highlighting the need for interventions that could benefit more patients. Here, we found that microglial phagocytosis is upregulated during cone degeneration in RP, suggesting that expression of "don't-eat-me" signals such as CD47 might confer protection to cones. To test this, we delivered an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector expressing CD47 on cones, which promoted cone survival in 3 mouse models of RP and preserved visual function. Cone rescue with CD47 required a known interacting protein, signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), but not an alternative interacting protein, thrombospondin-1 (TSP1). Despite the correlation between increased microglial phagocytosis and cone death, microglia were dispensable for the prosurvival activity of CD47, suggesting that CD47 interacts with SIRPα on nonmicroglial cells to alleviate degeneration. These findings establish augmentation of CD47/SIRPα signaling as a potential treatment strategy for RP and possibly other forms of neurodegeneration.
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18
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Retinal and cortical visual acuity in a common inbred albino mouse. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0242394. [PMID: 34048428 PMCID: PMC8162811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While albino mice are widely used in research which includes the use of visually guided behavioral tests, information on their visual capability is scarce. We compared the spatial resolution (acuity) of albino mice (BALB/c) with that of pigmented mice (C57BL/6J). We used a high-throughput pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) method for objective assessment of retinal and cortical acuity, as well as optomotor head-tracking response/ reflex (OMR). We found that PERG, PVEP, and OMR acuities of C57BL/6J mice were all in the range of 0.5-0.6 cycles/degree (cyc/deg). BALB/c mice had PERG and PVEP acuities in the range of 0.1-0.2 cyc/deg but were unresponsive to OMR stimulus. Results indicate that retinal and cortical acuity can be reliably determined with electrophysiological methods in BALB/c mice, although PERG/PVEP acuities are lower than those of C57BL/6J mice. The reduced acuity of BALB/c mice appears to be primarily determined at retinal level.
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19
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Jiang X, Rashwan R, Voigt V, Nerbonne J, Hunt DM, Carvalho LS. Molecular, Cellular and Functional Changes in the Retinas of Young Adult Mice Lacking the Voltage-Gated K + Channel Subunits Kv8.2 and K2.1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4877. [PMID: 34063002 PMCID: PMC8124447 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Response (CDSRR) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder leading to severe visual impairment in humans, but little is known about its unique pathophysiology. We have previously shown that CDSRR is caused by mutations in the KCNV2 (Potassium Voltage-Gated Channel Modifier Subfamily V Member 2) gene encoding the Kv8.2 subunit, a modulatory subunit of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels. In a recent study, we validated a novel mouse model of Kv8.2 deficiency at a late stage of the disease and showed that it replicates the human electroretinogram (ERG) phenotype. In this current study, we focused our investigation on young adult retinas to look for early markers of disease and evaluate their effect on retinal morphology, electrophysiology and immune response in both the Kv8.2 knockout (KO) mouse and in the Kv2.1 KO mouse, the obligate partner of Kv8.2 in functional retinal Kv channels. By evaluating the severity of retinal dystrophy in these KO models, we demonstrated that retinas of Kv KO mice have significantly higher apoptotic cells, a thinner outer nuclear cell layer and increased activated microglia cells in the subretinal space. Our results indicate that in the murine retina, the loss of Kv8.2 subunits contributes to early cellular and physiological changes leading to retinal dysfunction. These results could have potential implications in the early management of CDSRR despite its relatively nonprogressive nature in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Jiang
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (X.J.); (D.M.H.)
| | - Rabab Rashwan
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; (R.R.); (V.V.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Valentina Voigt
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; (R.R.); (V.V.)
| | - Jeanne Nerbonne
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - David M. Hunt
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (X.J.); (D.M.H.)
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; (R.R.); (V.V.)
| | - Livia S. Carvalho
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (X.J.); (D.M.H.)
- Lions Eye Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; (R.R.); (V.V.)
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20
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Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is regarded as the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, including the retina. However, the roles of GABA-immunolabeled retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have not been explored. Here, we report the expression of GABAergic RGCs that project to many brain areas in mice, including the superior colliculus. Selective ablation of the superior colliculus-projecting GABAergic RGCs, leaving other GABAergic RGCs intact, reduces the looming stimulus-induced defensive response without affecting image-forming functions; it also significantly enhances glucose metabolism in the superior colliculus, as determined by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG PET). Our findings demonstrate that superior colliculus-projecting GABAergic RGCs control the visually active defensive response by regulating superior colliculus neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danrui Cai
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei
| | - Xue Luo
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Kejiong Shen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei
| | - Yin Shen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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21
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Hetzer SM, Guilhaume-Correa F, Day D, Bedolla A, Evanson NK. Traumatic Optic Neuropathy Is Associated with Visual Impairment, Neurodegeneration, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Adolescent Mice. Cells 2021; 10:cells10050996. [PMID: 33922788 PMCID: PMC8146890 DOI: 10.3390/cells10050996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in a number of impairments, often including visual symptoms. In some cases, visual impairments after head trauma are mediated by traumatic injury to the optic nerve, termed traumatic optic neuropathy (TON), which has few effective options for treatment. Using a murine closed-head weight-drop model of head trauma, we previously reported in adult mice that there is relatively selective injury to the optic tract and thalamic/brainstem projections of the visual system. In the current study, we performed blunt head trauma on adolescent C57BL/6 mice and investigated visual impairment in the primary visual system, now including the retina and using behavioral and histologic methods at new time points. After injury, mice displayed evidence of decreased optomotor responses illustrated by decreased optokinetic nystagmus. There did not appear to be a significant change in circadian locomotor behavior patterns, although there was an overall decrease in locomotor behavior in mice with head injury. There was evidence of axonal degeneration of optic nerve fibers with associated retinal ganglion cell death. There was also evidence of astrogliosis and microgliosis in major central targets of optic nerve projections. Further, there was elevated expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers in retinas of injured mice. Visual impairment, histologic markers of gliosis and neurodegeneration, and elevated ER stress marker expression persisted for at least 30 days after injury. The current results extend our previous findings in adult mice into adolescent mice, provide direct evidence of retinal ganglion cell injury after head trauma and suggest that axonal degeneration is associated with elevated ER stress in this model of TON.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby M. Hetzer
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (S.M.H.); (D.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Fernanda Guilhaume-Correa
- Translational Biology, Medicine and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA;
| | - Dylan Day
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (S.M.H.); (D.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Alicia Bedolla
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (S.M.H.); (D.D.); (A.B.)
| | - Nathan K. Evanson
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (S.M.H.); (D.D.); (A.B.)
- Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Correspondence:
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Becker I, Wang-Eckhardt L, Lodder-Gadaczek J, Wang Y, Grünewald A, Eckhardt M. Mice deficient in the NAAG synthetase II gene Rimkla are impaired in a novel object recognition task. J Neurochem 2021; 157:2008-2023. [PMID: 33638175 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) is an abundant neuropeptide in the mammalian nervous system, synthesized by two related NAAG synthetases I and II (NAAGS-I and -II) encoded by the genes Rimklb and Rimkla, respectively. NAAG plays a role in cognition and memory, according to studies using inhibitors of the NAAG hydrolase glutamate carboxypeptidase II that increase NAAG concentration. To examine consequences of reduced NAAG concentration, Rimkla-deficient (Rimkla-/- ) mice were generated. These mice exhibit normal NAAG level at birth, likely because of the intact Rimklb gene, but have significantly reduced NAAG levels in all brain regions in adulthood. In wild type mice NAAGS-II was most abundant in brainstem and spinal cord, as demonstrated using a new NAAGS-II antiserum. In the hippocampus, NAAGS-II was only detectable in neurons expressing parvalbumin, a marker of GABAergic interneurons. Apart from reduced open field activity, general behavior of adult (6 months old) Rimkla-/- mice examined in different tests (dark-light transition, optokinetic behavior, rotarod, and alternating T-maze) was not significantly altered. However, Rimkla-/- mice were impaired in a short-term novel object recognition test. This was also the case for mice lacking NAA synthase Nat8l, which are devoid of NAAG. Together with results from previous studies showing that inhibition of the NAAG degrading enzyme glutamate carboxypeptidase II is associated with a significant improvement in object recognition, these results suggest a direct involvement of NAAG synthesized by NAAGS-II in the memory consolidation underlying the novel object recognition task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Becker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lihua Wang-Eckhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia Lodder-Gadaczek
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Agathe Grünewald
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Eckhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Jnawali A, Puri S, Frishman LJ, Ostrin LA. Visual function in guinea pigs: behavior and electrophysiology. Clin Exp Optom 2021; 104:523-531. [PMID: 33689637 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1878827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
CLINICAL RELEVANCE Guinea pig visual function is characterised based on behavioural and electrophysiological measures and retinal ganglion cell density is examined to further develop the guinea pig as a model of human ocular conditions. BACKGROUND Guinea pigs are an important model of human ocular conditions. Here, guinea pig spatial frequency discrimination, pattern and full-field photopic electroretinography (ERG), and retinal ganglion cell distribution were investigated. METHODS Adult guinea pigs (n = 6) were included. Optomotor responses to square-wave gratings from 0.3 to 2.4 cycles per degree (cpd) were assessed. Pattern ERG responses were recorded using square-wave gratings from 0.025 to 0.25 cpd at 100% contrast, alternating at a temporal frequency of 1.05 Hz. Full-field ERG responses were recorded using a 10.0 cd.s/m2 flash. Ganglion cell density was determined histologically from retinal whole mounts. RESULTS Maximum spatial frequency discrimination was 1.65 ± 0.49 cpd for stimuli rotating temporally to nasally and 0.75 ± 0.16 cpd for stimuli rotating nasally to temporally. For pattern ERG, a maximum amplitude of 3.50 ± 1.16 µV for the first negative to positive peak (N1P1) was elicited with a 0.025 cpd grating, and 2.5 ± 0.1 µV for the positive to second negative peak (P1N2) was elicited with a 0.05 cpd grating. For full-field ERG, a-wave amplitude was 19.2 ± 4.24 µV, b-wave amplitude was 33.6 ± 8.22 µV, and the PhNR was 24.0 ± 5.72 µV. Peak retinal ganglion cell density was 1621 ± 129 cells/mm2, located 1-2 mm superior to the optic nerve head. CONCLUSION Guinea pigs show directional selectivity for stimuli moving in the temporal to the nasal visual field. Guinea pigs demonstrate a quantifiable PhNR in the full-field ERG and negative and positive waveforms in the pattern ERG. The visual streak is located in the superior retina.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sudan Puri
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Lisa A Ostrin
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Reh M, Lee MJ, Schmierer J, Zeck G. Spatial and temporal resolution of optogenetically recovered vision in ChR2-transduced mouse retina. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 33545694 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abe39a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) represent an attractive target in vision restoration strategies, because they undergo little degeneration compared to other retinal neurons. Here we investigated the temporal and spatial resolution in adult photoreceptor-degenerated (rd10) mouse retinas, where RGCs have been transduced with the optogenetic actuator channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). APPROACH The RGC spiking activity was recorded continuously with a CMOS-based microelectrode array during a variety of photostimulation protocols. The temporal resolution was assessed through Gaussian white noise stimuli and evaluated using a linear-nonlinear-Poisson model. Spatial sensitivity was assessed upon photostimulation with single rectangular pulses stepped across the retina and upon stimulation with alternating gratings of different spatial frequencies. Spatial sensitivity was estimated using logistic regression or by evaluating the spiking activity of independent RGCs. MAIN RESULTS The temporal resolution after photostimulation displayed an about ten times faster kinetics as compared to physiological filters in wild-type RGCs. The optimal spatial resolution estimated using the logistic regression model was 10 µm and 87 µm based on the population response. These values correspond to an equivalent acuity of 1.7 or 0.2 cycles per degree, which is better than expected from the size of RGCs' optogenetic receptive fields. SIGNIFICANCE The high temporal and spatial resolution obtained by photostimulation of optogenetically transduced RGCs indicate that high acuity vision restoration may be obtained by photostimulation of appropriately modified RGCs in photoreceptor-degenerated retinas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Reh
- Neurophysics, NMI, Markwiesenstraße 55, Reutlingen, 72770, GERMANY
| | - Meng-Jung Lee
- Neurophysics, NMI, Markwiesenstraße 55, Reutlingen, 72770, GERMANY
| | - Julia Schmierer
- Neurophysics, NMI, Markwiesenstraße 55, Reutlingen, 72770, GERMANY
| | - Guenther Zeck
- Neurophysics, NMI, Markwiesenstraße 55, Reutlingen, 72770, GERMANY
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Atkinson R, Leung J, Bender J, Kirkcaldie M, Vickers J, King A. TDP-43 mislocalization drives neurofilament changes in a novel model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm.047548. [PMID: 33408125 PMCID: PMC7888715 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.047548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mislocalization of the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is a common feature of neurodegenerative conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The downstream in vivo cellular effects of this mislocalization are not well understood. To investigate the impact of mislocalized TDP-43 on neuronal cell bodies, axons and axonal terminals, we utilized the mouse visual system to create a new model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Mouse (C57BL/6J) retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were transduced with GFP-tagged human wildtype TDP-43 (hTDP-WT-GFP) and human TDP-43 with a mutation in the nuclear localization sequence (hTDP-ΔNLS-GFP), to cause TDP-43 mislocalization, with ∼60% transduction efficiency achieved. Expression of both hTDP-WT-GFP and hTDP-ΔNLS-GFP resulted in changes to neurofilament expression, with cytoplasmic TDP-43 being associated with significantly (p<0.05) increased neurofilament heavy expression in the cell soma, and both forms of altered TDP-43 leading to significantly (p<0.05) decreased numbers of neurofilament-positive axons within the optic nerve. Alterations to neurofilament proteins were associated with significantly (p<0.05) increased microglial density in the optic nerve and retina. Furthermore expression of hTDP-WT-GFP was associated with a significant (p<0.05) increase in pre-synaptic input into RGCs in the retina. The current study has developed a new model allowing detailed examination of alterations to TDP-43 and will contribute to the knowledge of TDP-43-mediated neuronal alterations and degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Atkinson
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Medical Science Precinct, 17, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Leung
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Medical Science Precinct, 17, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000, Australia
| | - James Bender
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Medical Science Precinct, 17, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000, Australia
| | - Matthew Kirkcaldie
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Medical Science Precinct, 17, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000, Australia
| | - James Vickers
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Medical Science Precinct, 17, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000, Australia
| | - Anna King
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Medical Science Precinct, 17, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000, Australia
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Choi I, Beedholm K, Dam VS, Bae SH, Noble DJ, Garraway SM, Aalkjaer C, Boedtkjer E. Sodium bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1/Slc4a7 affects locomotor activity and hearing in mice. Behav Brain Res 2020; 401:113065. [PMID: 33321164 PMCID: PMC9069564 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite a widespread expression pattern in the central nervous system, the role of the sodium bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1/Slc4a7 has not been investigated for locomotor activity, emotion and cognition. Here, we addressed the behavioral consequences of NBCn1 knockout and evaluated hearing and vision that are reportedly impaired in an earlier line of NBCn1 knockout mice and may contribute to behavioral changes. In a circular open field, the knockout mice traveled a shorter distance, especially in the periphery of the chamber, than wildtype littermates. The knockout mice also traveled a shorter total distance in a home cage-like open field. Rearing and grooming behaviors were reduced. The knockout and control mice displayed similar time spent and number of open and closed arms in the elevated plus maze test, indicating negligible change in anxiety. In the Morris water maze test, both groups of mice learned the location of an escape platform within comparable time on the training trials and showed similar platform identification on the probe trial. The knockout mice maintained normal visual responses in the optokinetic drum and produced evoked potentials in response to light stimuli. However, these mice failed to produce auditory evoked potentials. qPCR revealed a robust expression of an alternatively transcribed NBCn1 variant in the knockout mouse retina. These results indicate that NBCn1 deletion leads to reduced locomotor activity in mice by affecting their exploratory behaviors or emotionality. The deletion also causes hearing loss, but its effect on vision varies between different lines of knockout mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inyeong Choi
- Department of Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA.
| | | | - Vibeke S Dam
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Seong-Ho Bae
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Donald J Noble
- Department of Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Sandra M Garraway
- Department of Physiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | | | - Ebbe Boedtkjer
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Rabiee B, Anwar KN, Shen X, Putra I, Liu M, Jung R, Afsharkhamseh N, Rosenblatt MI, Fishman GA, Liu X, Ghassemi M, Djalilian AR. Gene dosage manipulation alleviates manifestations of hereditary PAX6 haploinsufficiency in mice. Sci Transl Med 2020; 12:eaaz4894. [PMID: 33298563 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz4894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In autosomal dominant conditions with haploinsufficiency, a single functional allele cannot maintain sufficient dosage for normal function. We hypothesized that pharmacologic induction of the wild-type allele could lead to gene dosage compensation and mitigation of the disease manifestations. The paired box 6 (PAX6) gene is crucial in tissue development and maintenance particularly in eye, brain, and pancreas. Aniridia is a panocular condition with impaired eye development and limited vision due to PAX6 haploinsufficiency. To test our hypothesis, we performed a chemical screen and found mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors to induce PAX6 expression in normal and mutant corneal cells. Treatment of newborn Pax6-deficient mice (Pax6Sey-Neu/+ ) with topical or systemic MEK inhibitor PD0325901 led to increased corneal PAX6 expression, improved corneal morphology, reduced corneal opacity, and enhanced ocular function. These results suggest that induction of the wild-type allele by drug repurposing is a potential therapeutic strategy for haploinsufficiencies, which is not limited to specific mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Rabiee
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Khandaker N Anwar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Xiang Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ilham Putra
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Mingna Liu
- Departments of Biology and Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Rebecca Jung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Neda Afsharkhamseh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Mark I Rosenblatt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Gerald A Fishman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Pangere Center for Inherited Retinal Diseases, The Chicago Lighthouse, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Departments of Biology and Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Mahmood Ghassemi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ali R Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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Tong M, Yu X, Shao J, Shao Z, Li W, Lin W. Automated measuring method based on Machine learning for optomotor response in mice. Neurocomputing 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucom.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Caves EM, Troscianko J, Kelley LA. A customizable, low‐cost optomotor apparatus: A powerful tool for behaviourally measuring visual capability. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M. Caves
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | - Jolyon Troscianko
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | - Laura A. Kelley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
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Maternal immune activation alters visual acuity and retinogeniculate axon pruning in offspring mice. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 89:518-523. [PMID: 32827701 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to have a variety of sensory processing deficits. Here we report that maternal immune activation, a known factor for ASD, alters visual acuity in the offspring mice. By intraperitoneally injecting polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) to induce maternal immune activation during embryonic days 10 to 14, we found that polyI:C treatment impairs visual acuity in young adult offspring mice as examined by their optomotor responses. Concurrently, polyI:C treatment suppresses retinogeniculate axon elimination, resulting in a high fraction of weak optical fibers innervating the relay neurons in the visual thalamus. The results link in-utero maternal inflammation to defective optical fiber pruning and arrested developmental strengthening of single optic fibers which may underlie impaired visual acuity.
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Naik H, Bastien R, Navab N, Couzin ID. Animals in Virtual Environments. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS 2020; 26:2073-2083. [PMID: 32070970 DOI: 10.1109/tvcg.2020.2973063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The core idea in an XR (VR/MR/AR) application is to digitally stimulate one or more sensory systems (e.g. visual, auditory, olfactory) of the human user in an interactive way to achieve an immersive experience. Since the early 2000s biologists have been using Virtual Environments (VE) to investigate the mechanisms of behavior in non-human animals including insects, fish, and mammals. VEs have become reliable tools for studying vision, cognition, and sensory-motor control in animals. In turn, the knowledge gained from studying such behaviors can be harnessed by researchers designing biologically inspired robots, smart sensors, and rnulti-agent artificial intelligence. VE for animals is becoming a widely used application of XR technology but such applications have not previously been reported in the technical literature related to XR. Biologists and computer scientists can benefit greatly from deepening interdisciplinary research in this emerging field and together we can develop new methods for conducting fundamental research in behavioral sciences and engineering. To support our argument we present this review which provides an overview of animal behavior experiments conducted in virtual environments.
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Chiha W, Bartlett CA, Petratos S, Fitzgerald M, Harvey AR. Intravitreal application of AAV-BDNF or mutant AAV-CRMP2 protects retinal ganglion cells and stabilizes axons and myelin after partial optic nerve injury. Exp Neurol 2020; 326:113167. [PMID: 31904385 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Secondary degeneration following an initial injury to the central nervous system (CNS) results in increased tissue loss and is associated with increasing functional impairment. Unilateral partial dorsal transection of the adult rat optic nerve (ON) has proved to be a useful experimental model in which to study factors that contribute to secondary degenerative events. Using this injury model, we here quantified the protective effects of intravitreally administered bi-cistronic adeno-associated viral (AAV2) vectors encoding either brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or a mutant, phospho-resistant, version of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2T555A) on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), their axons, and associated myelin. To test for potential synergistic interactions, some animals received combined injections of both vectors. Three months post-injury, all treatments maintained RGC numbers in central retina, but only AAV2-BDNF significantly protected ventrally located RGCs exclusively vulnerable to secondary degeneration. Behaviourally, treatments that involved AAV2-BDNF significantly restored the number of smooth-pursuit phases of optokinetic nystagmus. While all therapeutic regimens preserved axonal density and proportions of typical complexes, including heminodes and single nodes, BDNF treatments were generally more effective in maintaining the length of the node of Ranvier in myelin surrounding ventral ON axons after injury. Both AAV2-BDNF and AAV2-CRMP2T555A prevented injury-induced changes in G-ratio and overall myelin thickness, but only AAV2-BDNF administration protected against large-scale myelin decompaction in ventral ON. In summary, in a model of secondary CNS degeneration, both BDNF and CRMP2T555A vectors were neuroprotective, however different efficacies were observed for these overexpressed proteins in the retina and ON, suggesting disparate cellular and molecular targets driving responses for neural repair. The potential use of these vectors to treat other CNS injuries and pathologies is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wissam Chiha
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Belmont, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Carole A Bartlett
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Steven Petratos
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Melinda Fitzgerald
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Belmont, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Alan R Harvey
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
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Roche SL, Kutsyr O, Cuenca N, Cotter TG. Norgestrel, a Progesterone Analogue, Promotes Significant Long-Term Neuroprotection of Cone Photoreceptors in a Mouse Model of Retinal Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:3221-3235. [PMID: 31335948 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-27246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of inherited blinding retinal diseases, whereby the death of mutated rod photoreceptors is followed closely by the death of cone photoreceptors. Cone cell death can be hugely debilitating as color/daytime vision becomes impaired. Thus, treatments that are effective against cone cell death are urgently needed. Our research has been working toward development of a neuroprotective treatment for RP. We have previously demonstrated significant neuroprotective properties of norgestrel, a progesterone analogue, in the mouse retina. The current study further investigates the potential of norgestrel as a treatment for RP, with a focus on long-term preservation of cone photoreceptors. Methods Using the well-established rd10 mouse model of RP, we administered a norgestrel-supplemented diet at postnatal day (P)30, following widespread loss of rod photoreceptors and at the outset of cone degeneration. We subsequently assessed cone cell morphology and retinal function at P50, P60, and P80, using immunohistochemistry, electroretinograph recordings, and optomotor testing. Results While cone cell degeneration was widespread in the untreated rd10 retina, we observed profound preservation of cone photoreceptor morphology in the norgestrel-treated mice for at least 50 days, out to P80. This was demonstrated by up to 28-fold more cone arrestin-positive photoreceptors. This protection transpired to functional preservation at all ages. Conclusions This work presents norgestrel as an incredibly promising long-term neuroprotective compound for the treatment of RP. Crucially, norgestrel could be used in the mid-late stages of the disease to protect remaining cone cells and help preserve color/daytime vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Roche
- Cell Development and Disease Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Oksana Kutsyr
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Thomas G Cotter
- Cell Development and Disease Laboratory, Biochemistry Department, Biosciences Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Shabanzadeh AP, D'Onofrio PM, Magharious M, Choi KAB, Monnier PP, Koeberle PD. Modifying PTEN recruitment promotes neuron survival, regeneration, and functional recovery after CNS injury. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:567. [PMID: 31358730 PMCID: PMC6662832 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1802-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) regulates apoptosis and axonal growth in the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS). Here, we show that human PTEN C-terminal PDZ interactions play a critical role in neuronal apoptosis and axon regeneration after traumatic CNS injury and stroke, highlighted by the findings that antagonizing the PDZ-motif interactions of PTEN has therapeutic applicability for these indications. Interestingly, the death-inducing function of PTEN following ischemic insult depends on a PDZ-domain interaction with MAGI-2 and MAST205, PDZ proteins that are known to recruit PTEN to the plasma membrane and stabilize its interaction with PIP3. Treatments with a human peptide that prevents PTEN association with MAGI-2 or MAST205 increased neuronal survival in multiple stroke models, in vitro. A pro-survival effect was also observed in models of retinal ischemia, optic nerve transection, and after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in adult rats. The human PTEN peptide also improved axonal regeneration in the crushed optic nerve. Furthermore, human PTEN peptide therapy promoted functional improvement after MCAO or retinal ischemia induced via ophthalmic artery ligation. These findings show that the human peptide-based targeting of C-terminal PTEN PDZ interactions has therapeutic potential for insults of the CNS, including trauma and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Pirsaraei Shabanzadeh
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Philippe Matteo D'Onofrio
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Mark Magharious
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Kyung An Brian Choi
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Philippe Patrick Monnier
- Departments of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Paulo Dieter Koeberle
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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35
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Storchi R, Rodgers J, Gracey M, Martial FP, Wynne J, Ryan S, Twining CJ, Cootes TF, Killick R, Lucas RJ. Measuring vision using innate behaviours in mice with intact and impaired retina function. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10396. [PMID: 31316114 PMCID: PMC6637134 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46836-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Measuring vision in rodents is a critical step for understanding vision, improving models of human disease, and developing therapies. Established behavioural tests for perceptual vision, such as the visual water task, rely on learning. The learning process, while effective for sighted animals, can be laborious and stressful in animals with impaired vision, requiring long periods of training. Current tests that that do not require training are based on sub-conscious, reflex responses (e.g. optokinetic nystagmus) that don't require involvement of visual cortex and higher order thalamic nuclei. A potential alternative for measuring vision relies on using visually guided innate defensive responses, such as escape or freeze, that involve cortical and thalamic circuits. In this study we address this possibility in mice with intact and degenerate retinas. We first develop automatic methods to detect behavioural responses based on high dimensional tracking and changepoint detection of behavioural time series. Using those methods, we show that visually guided innate responses can be elicited using parametisable stimuli, and applied to describing the limits of visual acuity in healthy animals and discriminating degrees of visual dysfunction in mouse models of retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Storchi
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - J Rodgers
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - M Gracey
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - F P Martial
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - J Wynne
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - S Ryan
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - C J Twining
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - T F Cootes
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - R Killick
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - R J Lucas
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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36
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Comparison of ion channel inhibitor combinations for limiting secondary degeneration following partial optic nerve transection. Exp Brain Res 2018; 237:161-171. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5414-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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37
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Shao Z, Wu J, Du G, Song H, Li SH, He S, Li J, Wu J, Weisel RD, Yuan H, Li RK. Young bone marrow Sca-1 cells protect aged retina from ischaemia-reperfusion injury through activation of FGF2. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 22:6176-6189. [PMID: 30255622 PMCID: PMC6237572 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and optic nerve degeneration are prevalent in aged patients, which may be related to the decrease in bone marrow (BM) stem cell number/function because of the possible cross‐talk between the two organs. This pathological process is accelerated by retinal ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study investigated whether young BM stem cells can regenerate and repair the aged retina after acute I/R injury. Young BM stem cell antigen 1 positive (Sca‐1+) or Sca‐1− cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated aged recipient mice to generate Sca‐1+ and Sca‐1− chimaeras, respectively. The animals were housed for 3 months to allow the young Sca‐1 cells to repopulate in the BM of aged mice. Retinal I/R was then induced by elevation of intraocular pressure. Better preservation of visual function was found in Sca‐1+ than Sca‐1− chimaeras 7 days after injury. More Sca‐1+ cells homed to the retina than Sca‐1− cells and more cells differentiated into glial and microglial cells in the Sca‐1+ chimaeras. After injury, Sca‐1+ cells in the retina reduced host cellular apoptosis, which was associated with higher expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in the Sca‐1+ chimaeras. Young Sca‐1+ cells repopulated the stem cells in the aged retina and diminished cellular apoptosis after acute I/R injury through FGF2 and Akt signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengbo Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Research Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Research Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Guoqing Du
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Research Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Huifang Song
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Shu-Hong Li
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheng He
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard D Weisel
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Huiping Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Research Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ren-Ke Li
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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38
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Nieman CL, Oppliger AL, McElwain CC, Gray SM. Visual detection thresholds in two trophically distinct fishes are compromised in algal compared to sedimentary turbidity. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy044. [PMID: 30135737 PMCID: PMC6097597 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Increasing anthropogenic turbidity is among the most prevalent disturbances in freshwater ecosystems, through increases in sedimentary deposition as well as the rise of nutrient-induced algal blooms. Changes to the amount and color of light underwater as a result of elevated turbidity are likely to disrupt the visual ecology of fishes that rely on vision to survive and reproduce; however, our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying visual responses to turbidity is lacking. First, we aimed to determine the visual detection threshold, a measure of visual sensitivity, of two ecologically and economically important Lake Erie fishes, the planktivorous forage fish, emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), and a primary predator, the piscivorous walleye (Sander vitreus), under sedimentary and algal turbidity. Secondly, we aimed to determine if these trophically distinct species are differentially impacted by increased turbidity. We used the innate optomotor response to determine the turbidity levels at which individual fish could no longer detect a difference between a stimulus and the background (i.e. visual detection threshold). Detection thresholds were significantly higher in sedimentary compared to algal turbidity for both emerald shiner (meansediment ± SE = 79.66 ± 5.51 NTU, meanalgal ± SE = 34.41 ± 3.19 NTU) and walleye (meansediment ± SE = 99.98 ± 5.31 NTU, meanalgal ± SE = 40.35 ± 2.44 NTU). Our results suggest that across trophic levels, the visual response of fishes will be compromised under algal compared to sedimentary turbidity. The influence of altered visual environments on the ability of fish to find food and detect predators could potentially be large, leading to population- and community-level changes within the Lake Erie ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsey L Nieman
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Andrew L Oppliger
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Caroline C McElwain
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Suzanne M Gray
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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Optimization of Optomotor Response-based Visual Function Assessment in Mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9708. [PMID: 29946119 PMCID: PMC6018764 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27329-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Optomotor response/reflex (OMR) assays are emerging as a powerful and versatile tool for phenotypic study and new drug discovery for eye and brain disorders. Yet efficient OMR assessment for visual performance in mice remains a challenge. Existing OMR testing devices for mice require a lengthy procedure and may be subject to bias due to use of artificial criteria. We developed an optimized staircase protocol that utilizes mouse head pausing behavior as a novel indicator for the absence of OMR, to allow rapid and unambiguous vision assessment. It provided a highly sensitive and reliable method that can be easily implemented into automated or manual OMR systems to allow quick and unbiased assessment for visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in mice. The sensitivity and quantitative capacity of the protocol were validated using wild type mice and an inherited mouse model of retinal degeneration – mice carrying rhodopsin deficiency and exhibiting progressive loss of photoreceptors. Our OMR system with this protocol was capable of detecting progressive visual function decline that was closely correlated with the loss of photoreceptors in rhodopsin deficient mice. It provides significant advances over the existing methods in the currently available OMR devices in terms of sensitivity, accuracy and efficiency.
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40
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Kirkels LAMH, Zhang W, Havenith MN, Tiesinga P, Glennon J, van Wezel RJA, Duijnhouwer J. The opto-locomotor reflex as a tool to measure sensitivity to moving random dot patterns in mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7710. [PMID: 29769564 PMCID: PMC5955912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25844-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
We designed a method to quantify mice visual function by measuring reflexive opto-locomotor responses. Mice were placed on a Styrofoam ball at the center of a large dome on the inside of which we projected moving random dot patterns. Because we fixed the heads of the mice in space and the ball was floating on pressurized air, locomotion of the mice was translated to rotation of the ball, which we registered. Sudden onsets of rightward or leftward moving patterns caused the mice to reflexively change their running direction. We quantified the opto-locomotor responses to different pattern speeds, luminance contrasts, and dot sizes. We show that the method is fast and reliable and the magnitude of the reflex is stable within sessions. We conclude that this opto-locomotor reflex method is suitable to quantify visual function in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A M H Kirkels
- Department of Biophysics, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - W Zhang
- Department of Biophysics, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - M N Havenith
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute, RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - P Tiesinga
- Department of Neuroinformatics, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J Glennon
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute, RadboudUMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - R J A van Wezel
- Department of Biophysics, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Biomedical Signals and Systems, MIRA, Twente University, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - J Duijnhouwer
- Department of Biophysics, Donders Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, USA
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41
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Online LI-rTMS during a Visual Learning Task: Differential Impacts on Visual Circuit and Behavioral Plasticity in Adult Ephrin-A2A5 -/- Mice. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-NRS-0163-17. [PMID: 29464193 PMCID: PMC5815844 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0163-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) induces plasticity in normal and abnormal neural circuitries, an effect that may be influenced by intrinsic brain activity during treatment. Here, we study potential synergistic effects between low-intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) and concurrent neural activity in promoting circuit reorganization and enhancing visual behavior. We used ephrin-A2A5–/– mice, which are known to possess visuotopic mapping errors that are ameliorated by LI-rTMS, and assessed the impact of stimulation when mice were engaged in a visual learning task. A detachable coil was affixed to each mouse, and animals underwent 2 wk of 10-min daily training in a two-choice visual discrimination task with concurrent LI-rTMS or sham stimulation. No-task controls (+LI-rTMS/sham) were placed in the task arena without visual task training. At the end of the experiment, visuomotor tracking behavior was assessed, and corticotectal and geniculocortical pathway organization was mapped by injections of fluorescent tracers into the primary visual cortex. Consistent with previous results, LI-rTMS alone improved geniculocortical and corticotectal topography, but combining LI-rTMS with the visual learning task prevented beneficial corticotectal reorganization and had no additional effect on geniculocortical topography or visuomotor tracking performance. Unexpectedly, there was a significant increase in the total number of trials completed by task + LI-rTMS mice in the visual learning task. Comparison with wild-type mice revealed that ephrin-A2A5–/– mice had reduced accuracy and response rates, suggesting a goal-directed behavioral deficit, which was improved by LI-rTMS. Our results suggest that concurrent brain activity during behavior interacts with LI-rTMS, altering behavior and different visual circuits in an abnormal system.
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42
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Shen G, Link S, Kumar S, Nusbaum DM, Tse DY, Fu Y, Wu SM, Frankfort BJ. Characterization of Retinal Ganglion Cell and Optic Nerve Phenotypes Caused by Sustained Intracranial Pressure Elevation in Mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2856. [PMID: 29434244 PMCID: PMC5809383 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21254-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) can result in multiple neurologic sequelae including vision loss. Inducible models of ICP elevation are lacking in model organisms, which limits our understanding of the mechanism by which increased ICP impacts the visual system. We adapted a mouse model for the sustained elevation of ICP and tested the hypothesis that elevated ICP impacts the optic nerve and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). ICP was elevated and maintained for 2 weeks, and resulted in multiple anatomic changes that are consistent with human disease including papilledema, loss of physiologic cupping, and engorgement of the optic nerve head. Elevated ICP caused a loss of RGC somas in the retina and RGC axons within the optic nerve, as well as a reduction in both RGC electrical function and contrast sensitivity. Elevated ICP also caused increased hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha expression in the ganglion cell layer. These experiments confirm that sustained ICP elevation can be achieved in mice and causes phenotypes that preferentially impact RGCs and are similar to those seen in human disease. With this model, it is possible to model human diseases of elevated ICP such as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofu Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Schuyler Link
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Derek M Nusbaum
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dennis Y Tse
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yingbin Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samuel M Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin J Frankfort
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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O'Hare Doig RL, Chiha W, Giacci MK, Yates NJ, Bartlett CA, Smith NM, Hodgetts SI, Harvey AR, Fitzgerald M. Specific ion channels contribute to key elements of pathology during secondary degeneration following neurotrauma. BMC Neurosci 2017; 18:62. [PMID: 28806920 PMCID: PMC5557315 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-017-0380-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following partial injury to the central nervous system, cells beyond the initial injury site undergo secondary degeneration, exacerbating loss of neurons, compact myelin and function. Changes in Ca2+ flux are associated with metabolic and structural changes, but it is not yet clear how flux through specific ion channels contributes to the various pathologies. Here, partial optic nerve transection in adult female rats was used to model secondary degeneration. Treatment with combinations of three ion channel inhibitors was used as a tool to investigate which elements of oxidative and structural damage related to long term functional outcomes. The inhibitors employed were the voltage gated Ca2+ channel inhibitor Lomerizine (Lom), the Ca2+ permeable AMPA receptor inhibitor YM872 and the P2X7 receptor inhibitor oxATP. RESULTS Following partial optic nerve transection, hyper-phosphorylation of Tau and acetylated tubulin immunoreactivity were increased, and Nogo-A immunoreactivity was decreased, indicating that axonal changes occurred acutely. All combinations of ion channel inhibitors reduced hyper-phosphorylation of Tau and increased Nogo-A immunoreactivity at day 3 after injury. However, only Lom/oxATP or all three inhibitors in combination significantly reduced acetylated tubulin immunoreactivity. Most combinations of ion channel inhibitors were effective in restoring the lengths of the paranode and the paranodal gap, indicative of the length of the node of Ranvier, following injury. However, only all three inhibitors in combination restored to normal Ankyrin G length at the node of Ranvier. Similarly, HNE immunoreactivity and loss of oligodendrocyte precursor cells were only limited by treatment with all three ion channel inhibitors in combination. CONCLUSIONS Data indicate that inhibiting any of a range of ion channels preserves certain elements of axon and node structure and limits some oxidative damage following injury, whereas ionic flux through all three channels must be inhibited to prevent lipid peroxidation and preserve Ankyrin G distribution and OPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan L O'Hare Doig
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Wissam Chiha
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Marcus K Giacci
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nathanael J Yates
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Carole A Bartlett
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Nicole M Smith
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Stuart I Hodgetts
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Verdun St, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Alan R Harvey
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Verdun St, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Melinda Fitzgerald
- Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia. .,Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia. .,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Verdun St, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia.
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44
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van der Heijden ME, Shah P, Cowan CS, Yang Z, Wu SM, Frankfort BJ. Effects of Chronic and Acute Intraocular Pressure Elevation on Scotopic and Photopic Contrast Sensitivity in Mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 57:3077-87. [PMID: 27286365 PMCID: PMC4913820 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-19312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the impact of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation on scotopic and photopic contrast sensitivity in mice. METHODS We chronically elevated the IOP of wild-type mice via injection of polystyrene beads or acutely via injection of highly cohesive sodium hyaluronate. Some eyes with chronically elevated IOP were treated with either topical brimonidine tartrate 0.1% or brinzolamide 1%. Scotopic and photopic contrast sensitivity was assessed at peak spatiotemporal frequencies at multiple time points, with an established optokinetic technique. Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts were determined with an antibody to class III beta-tubulin. Correlations among IOP level, RGC count, and scotopic or photopic contrast sensitivity were performed. RESULTS Six weeks of IOP elevation caused a generalized reduction of photopic contrast sensitivity and a preferential reduction of scotopic contrast sensitivity at peak spatiotemporal frequencies. The administration of brinzolamide but not brimonidine caused a significant reduction in cumulative IOP, whereas brimonidine, but not brinzolamide, prevented RGC loss. Both brimonidine and brinzolamide prevented contrast sensitivity loss, but brimonidine did so at earlier time points and across a wider range of lighting conditions. Following either chronic or acute IOP elevation, scotopic contrast sensitivity was impacted most prominently by IOP level and not by RGC count, while photopic contrast sensitivity was impacted by a combination of factors. CONCLUSIONS It is possible that scotopic-specific retinal circuitry is altered preferentially by IOP elevation, and that changes in scotopic contrast sensitivity will assist with glaucoma detection. Brimonidine appears to prevent RGC loss via an IOP-independent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike E van der Heijden
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States 2Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Priya Shah
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Cameron S Cowan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States 2Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Zhuo Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Samuel M Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States 2Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Benjamin J Frankfort
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States 2Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
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Genetic Otx2 mis-localization delays critical period plasticity across brain regions. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:680-688. [PMID: 28194008 PMCID: PMC5400722 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of non-cell autonomous Otx2 homeoprotein in postnatal mouse visual cortex (V1) has been implicated in both the onset and closure of critical period (CP) plasticity. Here, we show that a genetic point mutation in the glycosaminoglycan recognition motif of Otx2 broadly delays the maturation of pivotal parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons not only in V1 but also in the primary auditory (A1) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Consequently, not only visual, but also auditory plasticity is delayed, including the experience-dependent expansion of tonotopic maps in A1 and the acquisition of acoustic preferences in mPFC, which mitigates anxious behavior. In addition, Otx2 mis-localization leads to dynamic turnover of selected perineuronal net (PNN) components well beyond the normal CP in V1 and mPFC. These findings reveal widespread actions of Otx2 signaling in the postnatal cortex controlling the maturational trajectory across modalities. Disrupted PV+ network function and deficits in PNN integrity are implicated in a variety of psychiatric illnesses, suggesting a potential global role for Otx2 function in establishing mental health.
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46
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You M, Yamane T, Tomita H, Sugano E, Akashi T. A novel rat head gaze determination system based on optomotor responses. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176633. [PMID: 28445553 PMCID: PMC5405982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The optomotor response of animals is commonly used to measure their visual performance, e.g., rats of different genetically altered strains or various drug tests. With the presentation of stimuli using computer screens or projectors, the common idea focuses on measuring the eye movement or head and/or body movement to characterize changes of the head gaze. However, traditional methods rely on either the invasive fixation of animals, or the judgment of a human observer who reports the stimulus-tracking movements. In this paper, we propose a novel head gaze determination system to automatically track the head movement of rats without artificial markers. The experiments were done to demonstrate the process of optimizing parameters in image processing. As a result, the head angle curve of the proposed method is consistent with that of ground-truth data annotated manually according to predefined rules. Hence, the proposed method provides a simple, convenient, and objective solution to automatically generate the head gaze orientations from massive amounts of recorded data for further visual performance analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengbo You
- Department of Design and Media Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Yamane
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tomita
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Eriko Sugano
- Department of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Takuya Akashi
- Department of Design and Media Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
- * E-mail:
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47
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Mishra A, Das B, Nath M, Iyer S, Kesarwani A, Bhattacharjee J, Arindkar S, Sahay P, Jain K, Sahu P, Sinha P, Velpandian T, Nagarajan P, Upadhyay P. A novel immunodeficient NOD.SCID -rd1 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa to investigate potential therapeutics and pathogenesis of retinal degeneration. Biol Open 2017; 6:449-462. [PMID: 28258056 PMCID: PMC5399550 DOI: 10.1242/bio.021618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a common retinal degeneration disease caused by mutation in any gene of the photo transduction cascade and results in photoreceptor dystrophy. Over decades, several animal models have been used to address the need for the elucidation of effective therapeutics and factors regulating retinal degeneration to prohibit or renew the damaged retina. However, controversies over the immune privilege of retina during cell transplantation and the role of immune modulation during RP still remain largely uninvestigated because of the lack of suitable animal models. Here, we have developed an immunocompromised mouse model, NOD.SCID-rd1, for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) by crossing CBA/J and NOD SCID mice and selecting homozygous double mutant animals for further breeding. Characterization of the newly developed RP model indicates a similar retinal degeneration pattern as CBA/J, with a decreased apoptosis rate and rhodopsin loss. It also exhibits loss of T cells, B cells and NK cells. The NOD.SCID-rd1 model is extremely useful for allogenic and xenogenic cell-based therapeutics, as indicated by the higher cell integration capacity post transplantation. We dissect the underlying role of the immune system in the progression of RP and the effect of immune deficiency on immune privilege of the eye using comparative qPCR studies of this model and the immune-competent RP model. Summary: NOD.SCID-rd1 is an immune compromised mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) to investigate cell-based therapeutics for retinal rescue during RP and to study immunological aspects of its pathogenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaknanda Mishra
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Barun Das
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Madhu Nath
- Department of Ocular Pharmacology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Srikanth Iyer
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Ashwani Kesarwani
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Jashdeep Bhattacharjee
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Shailendra Arindkar
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Preeti Sahay
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Kshama Jain
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Parul Sahu
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Prakriti Sinha
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Thirumurthy Velpandian
- Department of Ocular Pharmacology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Perumal Nagarajan
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pramod Upadhyay
- Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
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48
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Huang L, Yuan T, Tan M, Xi Y, Hu Y, Tao Q, Zhao Z, Zheng J, Han Y, Xu F, Luo M, Sollars PJ, Pu M, Pickard GE, So KF, Ren C. A retinoraphe projection regulates serotonergic activity and looming-evoked defensive behaviour. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14908. [PMID: 28361990 PMCID: PMC5381010 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals promote their survival by avoiding rapidly approaching objects that indicate threats. In mice, looming-evoked defensive responses are triggered by the superior colliculus (SC) which receives direct retinal inputs. However, the specific neural circuits that begin in the retina and mediate this important behaviour remain unclear. Here we identify a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that controls mouse looming-evoked defensive responses through axonal collaterals to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and SC. Looming signals transmitted by DRN-projecting RGCs activate DRN GABAergic neurons that in turn inhibit serotoninergic neurons. Moreover, activation of DRN serotoninergic neurons reduces looming-evoked defensive behaviours. Thus, a dedicated population of RGCs signals rapidly approaching visual threats and their input to the DRN controls a serotonergic self-gating mechanism that regulates innate defensive responses. Our study provides new insights into how the DRN and SC work in concert to extract and translate visual threats into defensive behavioural responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Huang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tifei Yuan
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China
| | - Minjie Tan
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yue Xi
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qian Tao
- Psychology Department, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhikai Zhao
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiajun Zheng
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yushui Han
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Zhongguancun Life Science, Park 7 Science Park Road, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Patricia J Sollars
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA
| | - Mingliang Pu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Gary E Pickard
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, USA
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Department of Ophthalmology and State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Chaoran Ren
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Guangdong key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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49
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Yates NJ, Giacci MK, O'Hare Doig RL, Chiha W, Ashworth BE, Kenna J, Bartlett CA, Fitzgerald M. Delayed treatment of secondary degeneration following acute optic nerve transection using a combination of ion channel inhibitors. Neural Regen Res 2017; 12:307-316. [PMID: 28400815 PMCID: PMC5361517 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.200814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that a combined application of several ion channel inhibitors immediately after central nervous system injury can inhibit secondary degeneration. However, for clinical use, it is necessary to determine how long after injury the combined treatment of several ion channel inhibitors can be delayed and efficacy maintained. In this study, we delivered Ca2+ entry-inhibiting P2X7 receptor antagonist oxidized-ATP and AMPA receptor antagonist YM872 to the optic nerve injury site via an iPRECIO@ pump immediately, 6 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after partial optic nerve transection surgery. In addition, all of the ion channel inhibitor treated rats were administered with calcium channel antagonist lomerizine hydrochloride. It is important to note that as a result of implantation of the particular pumps required for programmable delivery of therapeutics directly to the injury site, seromas occurred in a significant proportion of animals, indicating infection around the pumps in these animals. Improvements in visual function were observed only when treatment was delayed by 6 hours; phosphorylated Tau was reduced when treatment was delayed by 24 hours or 7 days. Improvements in structure of node/paranode of Ranvier and reductions in oxidative stress indicators were also only observed when treatment was delayed for 6 hours, 24 hours, or 7 days. Benefits of ion channel inhibitors were only observed with time-delayed treatment, suggesting that delayed therapy of Ca2+ ion channel inhibitors produces better neuroprotective effects on secondary degeneration, at least in the presence of seromas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael J Yates
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Marcus K Giacci
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ryan L O'Hare Doig
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Wissam Chiha
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Bethany E Ashworth
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jade Kenna
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Carole A Bartlett
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Melinda Fitzgerald
- Department of Experimental and Regenerative Neurosciences, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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50
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Tam SKE, Hasan S, Hughes S, Hankins MW, Foster RG, Bannerman DM, Peirson SN. Modulation of recognition memory performance by light requires both melanopsin and classical photoreceptors. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20162275. [PMID: 28003454 PMCID: PMC5204172 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute light exposure exerts various effects on physiology and behaviour. Although the effects of light on brain network activity in humans are well demonstrated, the effects of light on cognitive performance are inconclusive, with the size, as well as direction, of the effect depending on the nature of the task. Similarly, in nocturnal rodents, bright light can either facilitate or disrupt performance depending on the type of task employed. Crucially, it is unclear whether the effects of light on behavioural performance are mediated via the classical image-forming rods and cones or the melanopsin-expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Here, we investigate the modulatory effects of light on memory performance in mice using the spontaneous object recognition task. Importantly, we examine which photoreceptors are required to mediate the effects of light on memory performance. By using a cross-over design, we show that object recognition memory is disrupted when the test phase is conducted under a bright light (350 lux), regardless of the light level in the sample phase (10 or 350 lux), demonstrating that exposure to a bright light at the time of test, rather than at the time of encoding, impairs performance. Strikingly, the modulatory effect of light on memory performance is completely abolished in both melanopsin-deficient and rodless-coneless mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that melanopsin-driven and rod/cone-driven photoresponses are integrated in order to mediate the effect of light on memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu K E Tam
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences), Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Tinbergen Building, 9 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK
| | - Sibah Hasan
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences), Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Steven Hughes
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences), Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Mark W Hankins
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences), Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Russell G Foster
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences), Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - David M Bannerman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Tinbergen Building, 9 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK
| | - Stuart N Peirson
- Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences), Oxford Molecular Pathology Institute, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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