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Yuan M, Jin S, Tan G, Song S, Liu Y, Wang H, Shen Y. A Non-canonical Excitatory PV RGC-PV SC Visual Pathway for Mediating the Looming-evoked Innate Defensive Response. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:310-324. [PMID: 37302108 PMCID: PMC10912393 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01076-z] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parvalbumin-positive retinal ganglion cells (PV+ RGCs) are an essential subset of RGCs found in various species. However, their role in transmitting visual information remains unclear. Here, we characterized PV+ RGCs in the retina and explored the functions of the PV+ RGC-mediated visual pathway. By applying multiple viral tracing strategies, we investigated the downstream of PV+ RGCs across the whole brain. Interestingly, we found that the PV+ RGCs provided direct monosynaptic input to PV+ excitatory neurons in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus (SC). Ablation or suppression of SC-projecting PV+ RGCs abolished or severely impaired the flight response to looming visual stimuli in mice without affecting visual acuity. Furthermore, using transcriptome expression profiling of individual cells and immunofluorescence colocalization for RGCs, we found that PV+ RGCs are predominant glutamatergic neurons. Thus, our findings indicate the critical role of PV+ RGCs in an innate defensive response and suggest a non-canonical subcortical visual pathway from excitatory PV+ RGCs to PV+ SC neurons that regulates looming visual stimuli. These results provide a potential target for intervening and treating diseases related to this circuit, such as schizophrenia and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Yuan
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Sen Jin
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, CAS, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Gao Tan
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Siyuan Song
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 77030, USA
| | - Yizong Liu
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Huadong Wang
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Vectors for Biomedicine, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Viral Vector Technology in Cell and Gene Therapy Medicinal Products, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Quality Control Technology for Virus-Based Therapeutics, Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, CAS, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yin Shen
- Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Frontier Science Center of Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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2
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Liu Y, Cheng He R, Munguba GC, Lee RK. Parvalbumin expression changes with retinal ganglion cell degeneration. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1227116. [PMID: 37901418 PMCID: PMC10600448 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1227116] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Glaucoma is one of the main causes of irreversible visual field loss and blindness worldwide. Vision loss in this multifactorial neurodegenerative disease results from progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Identifying molecular markers that can be measured objectively and quantitatively may provide essential insights into glaucoma diagnosis and enhance pathophysiology understanding. Methods The chronic, progressive DBA/2J glaucomatous mouse model of glaucoma and C57BL6/J optic nerve crush (ONC) mouse model were used in this study. Changes in PVALB expression with RGC and optic nerve degeneration were assessed via gene expression microarray analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results Microarray analysis of the retinal gene expression in the DBA/2J mice at different ages showed that the expression of PVALB was downregulated as the mice aged and developed glaucoma with retinal ganglion cell loss. Analysis of qRT-PCR results demonstrated PVALB at the mRNA level was reduced in the retinas and optic nerves of old DBA/2J mice and in those after ONC compared to baseline young DBA2/J mice. PVALB protein expression measured by Western blot was also significantly reduced signal in the retinas and optic nerves of old DBA/2J mice and those eyes with crushed nerves. Immunohistochemical staining results demonstrated that there were fewer PVALB-positive cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the retina and staining pattern changed in the optic nerve from old DBA/2J mice as well as in mice eyes following ONC. Conclusion PVALB is abundantly expressed both by RGCs' soma in the retinas and RGCs' axons in the optic nerves of C57BL/6J. Furthermore, the expression level of PVALB decreases with RGC degeneration in the glaucomatous DBA/2J mice and after ONC injury of C57BL6/6J, indicating that PVALB is a reliable RGC molecular marker that can be used to study retinal and optic nerve degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Rossana Cheng He
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gustavo C. Munguba
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, United States
- Envision Eye Specialists, Ocala, FL, United States
| | - Richard K. Lee
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System, Miami, FL, United States
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3
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Cojocaru AE, Corna A, Reh M, Zeck G. High spatial resolution artificial vision inferred from the spiking output of retinal ganglion cells stimulated by optogenetic and electrical means. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1033738. [PMID: 36568888 PMCID: PMC9780279 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1033738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With vision impairment affecting millions of people world-wide, various strategies aiming at vision restoration are being undertaken. Thanks to decades of extensive research, electrical stimulation approaches to vision restoration began to undergo clinical trials. Quite recently, another technique employing optogenetic therapy emerged as a possible alternative. Both artificial vision restoration strategies reported poor spatial resolution so far. In this article, we compared the spatial resolution inferred ex vivo under ideal conditions using a computational model analysis of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) spiking activity. The RGC spiking was stimulated in epiretinal configuration by either optogenetic or electrical means. RGCs activity was recorded from the ex vivo retina of transgenic late-stage photoreceptor-degenerated mice (rd10) using a high-density Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) based microelectrode array. The majority of retinal samples were stimulated by both, optogenetic and electrical stimuli using a spatial grating stimulus. A population-level analysis of the spiking activity of identified RGCs was performed and the spatial resolution achieved through electrical and optogenetic photo-stimulation was inferred using a support vector machine classifier. The best f1 score of the classifier for the electrical stimulation in epiretinal configuration was 86% for 32 micron wide gratings and increased to 100% for 128 microns. For optogenetically activated cells, we obtained high f1 scores of 82% for 10 microns grid width for a photo-stimulation frequency of 2.5 Hz and 73% for a photo-stimulation frequency of 10 Hz. A subsequent analysis, considering only the RGCs modulated in both electrical and optogenetic stimulation protocols revealed no significant difference in the prediction accuracy between the two stimulation modalities. The results presented here indicate that a high spatial resolution can be achieved for electrical or optogenetic artificial stimulation using the activated retinal ganglion cell output.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Corna
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miriam Reh
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research at the University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Günther Zeck
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Hilgen G, Kartsaki E, Kartysh V, Cessac B, Sernagor E. A novel approach to the functional classification of retinal ganglion cells. Open Biol 2022; 12:210367. [PMID: 35259949 PMCID: PMC8905177 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal neurons are remarkedly diverse based on structure, function and genetic identity. Classifying these cells is a challenging task, requiring multimodal methodology. Here, we introduce a novel approach for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) classification, based on pharmacogenetics combined with immunohistochemistry and large-scale retinal electrophysiology. Our novel strategy allows grouping of cells sharing gene expression and understanding how these cell classes respond to basic and complex visual scenes. Our approach consists of several consecutive steps. First, the spike firing frequency is increased in RGCs co-expressing a certain gene (Scnn1a or Grik4) using excitatory DREADDs (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) in order to single out activity originating specifically from these cells. Their spike location is then combined with post hoc immunostaining, to unequivocally characterize their anatomical and functional features. We grouped these isolated RGCs into multiple clusters based on spike train similarities. Using this novel approach, we were able to extend the pre-existing list of Grik4-expressing RGC types to a total of eight and, for the first time, we provide a phenotypical description of 13 Scnn1a-expressing RGCs. The insights and methods gained here can guide not only RGC classification but neuronal classification challenges in other brain regions as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerrit Hilgen
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK,Health and Life Sciences, Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Evgenia Kartsaki
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK,Université Côte d'Azur, Inria, Biovision team and Neuromod Institute, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
| | - Viktoriia Kartysh
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK,Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases (LBI-RUD), 1090 Vienna, Austria,Research Centre for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno Cessac
- Université Côte d'Azur, Inria, Biovision team and Neuromod Institute, 06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
| | - Evelyne Sernagor
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
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5
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Ruff T, Peters C, Matsumoto A, Ihle SJ, Morales PA, Gaitanos L, Yonehara K, Del Toro D, Klein R. FLRT3 Marks Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells That Project to the Medial Terminal Nucleus. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:790466. [PMID: 34955746 PMCID: PMC8696037 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.790466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian retina extracts a multitude of diverse features from the visual scene such as color, contrast, and direction of motion. These features are transmitted separately to the brain by more than 40 different retinal ganglion cell (RGC) subtypes. However, so far only a few genetic markers exist to fully characterize the different RGC subtypes. Here, we present a novel genetic Flrt3-CreERT2 knock-in mouse that labels a small subpopulation of RGCs. Using single-cell injection of fluorescent dyes in Flrt3 positive RGCs, we distinguished four morphological RGC subtypes. Anterograde tracings using a fluorescent Cre-dependent Adeno-associated virus (AAV) revealed that a subgroup of Flrt3 positive RGCs specifically project to the medial terminal nucleus (MTN), which is part of the accessory optic system (AOS) and is essential in driving reflex eye movements for retinal image stabilization. Functional characterization using ex vivo patch-clamp recordings showed that the MTN-projecting Flrt3 RGCs preferentially respond to downward motion in an ON-fashion. These neurons distribute in a regular pattern and most of them are bistratified at the level of the ON and OFF bands of cholinergic starburst amacrine cells where they express the known ON-OFF direction-selective RGC marker CART. Together, our results indicate that MTN-projecting Flrt3 RGCs represent a new functionally homogeneous AOS projecting direction-selective RGC subpopulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Ruff
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Peters
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Akihiro Matsumoto
- Department of Biomedicine, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Stephan J Ihle
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pilar Alcalá Morales
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Louise Gaitanos
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Keisuke Yonehara
- Department of Biomedicine, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Daniel Del Toro
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, IDIBAPS, CIBERNED, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rüdiger Klein
- Department of Molecules, Signaling, and Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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6
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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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7
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OTX2 Non-Cell Autonomous Activity Regulates Inner Retinal Function. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0012-19.2020. [PMID: 32737182 PMCID: PMC7477954 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0012-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OTX2 is a homeoprotein transcription factor expressed in photoreceptors and bipolar cells in the retina. OTX2, like many other homeoproteins, transfers between cells and exerts non-cell autonomous effects such as promoting the survival of retinal ganglion cells that do not express the protein. Here we used a genetic approach to target extracellular OTX2 in the retina by conditional expression of a secreted single-chain anti-OTX2 antibody. Compared with control mice, the expression of this antibody by parvalbumin-expressing neurons in the retina is followed by a reduction in visual acuity in 1-month-old mice with no alteration of the retinal structure or cell type number or aspect. The a-waves and b-waves measured by electroretinogram were also indistinguishable from those of control mice, suggesting no functional deficit of photoreceptors and bipolar cells. Mice expressing the OTX2-neutralizing antibody did show a significant doubling in the flicker amplitude and a reduction in oscillatory potential, consistent with a change in inner retinal function. Our results show that interfering in vivo with OTX2 non-cell autonomous activity in the postnatal retina leads to an alteration in inner retinal cell functions and causes a deficit in visual acuity.
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8
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Laboissonniere LA, Goetz JJ, Martin GM, Bi R, Lund TJS, Ellson L, Lynch MR, Mooney B, Wickham H, Liu P, Schwartz GW, Trimarchi JM. Molecular signatures of retinal ganglion cells revealed through single cell profiling. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15778. [PMID: 31673015 PMCID: PMC6823391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells can be classified into more than 40 distinct subtypes, whether by functional classification or transcriptomics. The examination of these subtypes in relation to their physiology, projection patterns, and circuitry would be greatly facilitated through the identification of specific molecular identifiers for the generation of transgenic mice. Advances in single cell transcriptomic profiling have enabled the identification of molecular signatures for cellular subtypes that are only rarely found. Therefore, we used single cell profiling combined with hierarchical clustering and correlate analyses to identify genes expressed in distinct populations of Parvalbumin-expressing cells and functionally classified RGCs. RGCs were manually isolated based either upon fluorescence or physiological distinction through cell-attached recordings. Microarray hybridization and RNA-Sequencing were employed for the characterization of transcriptomes and in situ hybridization was utilized to further characterize gene candidate expression. Gene candidates were identified based upon cluster correlation, as well as expression specificity within physiologically distinct classes of RGCs. Further, we identified Prph, Ctxn3, and Prkcq as potential candidates for ipRGC classification in the murine retina. The use of these genes, or one of the other newly identified subset markers, for the generation of a transgenic mouse would enable future studies of RGC-subtype specific function, wiring, and projection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Laboissonniere
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology 2033 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Jillian J Goetz
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | | | - Ran Bi
- Department of Statistics, 2117 Snedecor Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Terry J S Lund
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 2437 Pammel Drive, 2114 Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Laura Ellson
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 2437 Pammel Drive, 2114 Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Madison R Lynch
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 2437 Pammel Drive, 2114 Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Bailey Mooney
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 2437 Pammel Drive, 2114 Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Hannah Wickham
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 2437 Pammel Drive, 2114 Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Statistics, 2117 Snedecor Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Gregory W Schwartz
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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9
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Fairless R, Williams SK, Diem R. Calcium-Binding Proteins as Determinants of Central Nervous System Neuronal Vulnerability to Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092146. [PMID: 31052285 PMCID: PMC6539299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal subpopulations display differential vulnerabilities to disease, but the factors that determine their susceptibility are poorly understood. Toxic increases in intracellular calcium are a key factor in several neurodegenerative processes, with calcium-binding proteins providing an important first line of defense through their ability to buffer incoming calcium, allowing the neuron to quickly achieve homeostasis. Since neurons expressing different calcium-binding proteins have been reported to be differentially susceptible to degeneration, it can be hypothesized that rather than just serving as markers of different neuronal subpopulations, they might actually be a key determinant of survival. In this review, we will summarize some of the evidence that expression of the EF-hand calcium-binding proteins, calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin, may influence the susceptibility of distinct neuronal subpopulations to disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Fairless
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Sarah K Williams
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ricarda Diem
- Department of Neurology, University Clinic Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DFKZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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10
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Lee ES, Lee JY, Kim GH, Jeon CJ. Identification of calretinin-expressing retinal ganglion cells projecting to the mouse superior colliculus. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 376:153-163. [PMID: 30506393 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In mice, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which consist of around 30 subtypes, exclusively transmit retinal information to the relevant brain systems through parallel visual pathways. The superior colliculus (SC) receives the vast majority of this information from several RGC subtypes. The objective of the current study is to identify the types of calretinin (CR)-expressing RGCs that project to the SC in mice. To label RGCs, we performed CR immunoreactivity in the mouse retina after injections of fluorescent dye, dextran into mouse SC. Subsequently, the neurons double-labeled for dextran and CR were iontophoretically injected with the lipophilic dye, DiI, to characterize the detailed morphological properties of these cells. The analysis of various morphological parameters, including dendritic arborization, dendritic field size and stratification, indicated that, of the ten different types of CR-expressing RGCs in the retina, the double-labeled cells consisted of at least eight types of RGCs that projected to the SC. These cells tended to have small-medium field sizes. However, except for dendritic field size, the cells did not exhibit consistent characteristics for the other morphometric parameters examined. The combination of a tracer and single-cell injections after immunohistochemistry for a particular molecule provided valuable data that confirmed the presence of distinct subtypes of RGCs within multiple-labeled RGCs that projected to specific brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Shil Lee
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea
| | - Jea-Young Lee
- Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, USF Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Gil Hyun Kim
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea
| | - Chang-Jin Jeon
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
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11
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Chandra AJ, Lee SCS, Grünert U. Thorny ganglion cells in marmoset retina: Morphological and neurochemical characterization with antibodies against calretinin. J Comp Neurol 2017; 525:3962-3974. [PMID: 28875500 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In primates, over 17 morphological types of retinal ganglion cell have been distinguished by their dendritic morphology and stratification, but reliable markers for specific ganglion cell populations are still rare. The calcium binding protein calretinin is known to be expressed in the inner nuclear and the ganglion cell layer of marmoset retina, however, the specific cell type(s) expressing calretinin in the ganglion cell layer are yet to be determined. Here, we identified calretinin positive retinal ganglion cells in the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. Double labeling with the ganglion cell marker RBPMS demonstrated that the large majority (80%) of the calretinin positive cells in the ganglion cell layer are ganglion cells, and 20% are displaced amacrine cells. The calretinin positive ganglion cells made up on average 12% of the total ganglion cell population outside of the foveal region and their proportion increased with eccentricity. Prelabeling with antibodies against calretinin and subsequent intracellular injection with DiI revealed that the large majority of the injected cells (n = 74) were either narrow thorny or broad thorny ganglion cells, 14 cells were displaced amacrine cells. Narrow thorny cells were further distinguished into outer and inner stratifying cells. In addition, weakly labeled cells with a large soma were identified as parasol ganglion cells. Our results show that three types of thorny ganglion cells in marmoset retina can be identified with antibodies against calretinin. Our findings are also consistent with the idea that the proportion of wide-field ganglion cell types increases in peripheral retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh J Chandra
- Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
| | - Sammy C S Lee
- Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
| | - Ulrike Grünert
- Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Sydney Node, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia.,Discipline of Anatomy & Histology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
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Segregation of Visual Response Properties in the Mouse Superior Colliculus and Their Modulation during Locomotion. J Neurosci 2017; 37:8428-8443. [PMID: 28760858 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3689-16.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The superior colliculus (SC) receives direct input from the retina and integrates it with information about sound, touch, and state of the animal that is relayed from other parts of the brain to initiate specific behavioral outcomes. The superficial SC layers (sSC) contain cells that respond to visual stimuli, whereas the deep SC layers (dSC) contain cells that also respond to auditory and somatosensory stimuli. Here, we used a large-scale silicon probe recording system to examine the visual response properties of SC cells of head-fixed and alert male mice. We found cells with diverse response properties including: (1) orientation/direction-selective (OS/DS) cells with a firing rate that is suppressed by drifting sinusoidal gratings (negative OS/DS cells); (2) suppressed-by-contrast cells; (3) cells with complex-like spatial summation nonlinearity; and (4) cells with Y-like spatial summation nonlinearity. We also found specific response properties that are enriched in different depths of the SC. The sSC is enriched with cells with small RFs, high evoked firing rates (FRs), and sustained temporal responses, whereas the dSC is enriched with the negative OS/DS cells and with cells with large RFs, low evoked FRs, and transient temporal responses. Locomotion modulates the activity of the SC cells both additively and multiplicatively and changes the preferred spatial frequency of some SC cells. These results provide the first description of the negative OS/DS cells and demonstrate that the SC segregates cells with different response properties and that the behavioral state of a mouse affects SC activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The superior colliculus (SC) receives visual input from the retina in its superficial layers (sSC) and induces eye/head-orientating movements and innate defensive responses in its deeper layers (dSC). Despite their importance, very little is known about the visual response properties of dSC neurons. Using high-density electrode recordings and novel model-based analysis, we found several novel visual response properties of the SC cells, including encoding of a cell's preferred orientation or direction by suppression of the firing rate. The sSC and the dSC are enriched with cells with different visual response properties. Locomotion modulates the cells in the SC. These findings contribute to our understanding of how the SC processes visual inputs, a critical step in comprehending visually guided behaviors.
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Krieger B, Qiao M, Rousso DL, Sanes JR, Meister M. Four alpha ganglion cell types in mouse retina: Function, structure, and molecular signatures. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180091. [PMID: 28753612 PMCID: PMC5533432 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina communicates with the brain using ≥30 parallel channels, each carried by axons of distinct types of retinal ganglion cells. In every mammalian retina one finds so-called "alpha" ganglion cells (αRGCs), identified by their large cell bodies, stout axons, wide and mono-stratified dendritic fields, and high levels of neurofilament protein. In the mouse, three αRGC types have been described based on responses to light steps: On-sustained, Off-sustained, and Off-transient. Here we employed a transgenic mouse line that labels αRGCs in the live retina, allowing systematic targeted recordings. We characterize the three known types and identify a fourth, with On-transient responses. All four αRGC types share basic aspects of visual signaling, including a large receptive field center, a weak antagonistic surround, and absence of any direction selectivity. They also share a distinctive waveform of the action potential, faster than that of other RGC types. Morphologically, they differ in the level of dendritic stratification within the IPL, which accounts for their response properties. Molecularly, each type has a distinct signature. A comparison across mammals suggests a common theme, in which four large-bodied ganglion cell types split the visual signal into four channels arranged symmetrically with respect to polarity and kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna Krieger
- Harvard Biophysics Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mu Qiao
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David L. Rousso
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joshua R. Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JRS); (MM)
| | - Markus Meister
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JRS); (MM)
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Lee JS, Kim HJ, Ahn CH, Jeon CJ. Expression of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α4 and β2 Subunits on Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells in the Rabbit. Acta Histochem Cytochem 2017; 50:29-37. [PMID: 28386148 PMCID: PMC5374101 DOI: 10.1267/ahc.16024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The direction selectivity of the retina is a distinct mechanism that is critical function of eyes for survival. The direction-selective retinal ganglion cells (DS RGCs) strongly respond to a preferred direction, but rarely respond to opposite direction or null directional visual stimuli. The DS RGCs are sensitive to acetylcholine, which is secreted from starburst amacrine cells (SACs) to the DS RGCs. Here, we investigated the existence and distribution of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α4 and β2 subunits on the dendritic arbors of the DS RGCs in adult rabbit retina using immunocytochemistry. The DS RGCs were injected with Lucifer yellow to identify their dendritic morphology. The double-labeled images of dendrites and nAChR subunits were visualized for reconstruction using high-resolution confocal microscopy. Although our results revealed that the distributional pattern of the nAChR subunits on the dendritic arbors of the DS RGCs was not asymmetric in the adult rabbit retina, the distribution of nAChR α4 and β2 subunits and molecular profiles of cholinergic inputs to DS RGCs in adult rabbit retina provide anatomical evidence for direction selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Seok Lee
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
| | - Hyun-Jin Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology
| | - Chang-Hyun Ahn
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
| | - Chang-Jin Jeon
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University
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15
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Martersteck EM, Hirokawa KE, Evarts M, Bernard A, Duan X, Li Y, Ng L, Oh SW, Ouellette B, Royall JJ, Stoecklin M, Wang Q, Zeng H, Sanes JR, Harris JA. Diverse Central Projection Patterns of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Cell Rep 2017; 18:2058-2072. [PMID: 28228269 PMCID: PMC5357325 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how >30 types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the mouse retina each contribute to visual processing in the brain will require more tools that label and manipulate specific RGCs. We screened and analyzed retinal expression of Cre recombinase using 88 transgenic driver lines. In many lines, Cre was expressed in multiple RGC types and retinal cell classes, but several exhibited more selective expression. We comprehensively mapped central projections from RGCs labeled in 26 Cre lines using viral tracers, high-throughput imaging, and a data processing pipeline. We identified over 50 retinorecipient regions and present a quantitative retina-to-brain connectivity map, enabling comparisons of target-specificity across lines. Projections to two major central targets were notably correlated: RGCs projecting to the outer shell or core regions of the lateral geniculate projected to superficial or deep layers within the superior colliculus, respectively. Retinal images and projection data are available online at http://connectivity.brain-map.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Martersteck
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Mariah Evarts
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Amy Bernard
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lydia Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Seung W Oh
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | | | | | - Quanxin Wang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Julie A Harris
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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Sanes JR, Masland RH. The types of retinal ganglion cells: current status and implications for neuronal classification. Annu Rev Neurosci 2015; 38:221-46. [PMID: 25897874 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-071714-034120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 486] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In the retina, photoreceptors pass visual information to interneurons, which process it and pass it to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Axons of RGCs then travel through the optic nerve, telling the rest of the brain all it will ever know about the visual world. Research over the past several decades has made clear that most RGCs are not merely light detectors, but rather feature detectors, which send a diverse set of parallel, highly processed images of the world on to higher centers. Here, we review progress in classification of RGCs by physiological, morphological, and molecular criteria, making a particular effort to distinguish those cell types that are definitive from those for which information is partial. We focus on the mouse, in which molecular and genetic methods are most advanced. We argue that there are around 30 RGC types and that we can now account for well over half of all RGCs. We also use RGCs to examine the general problem of neuronal classification, arguing that insights and methods from the retina can guide the classification enterprise in other brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Sanes
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138;
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Lee JY, Jeong SJ, Jeon CJ. Parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells in the superior colliculus in dog: distribution, colocalization with GABA, and effect of monocular enucleation. Zoolog Sci 2014; 31:748-57. [PMID: 25366158 DOI: 10.2108/zs140073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Parvalbumin (PV) is thought to play a major role in buffering intracellular calcium. We studied the distribution, morphology of PV-immunoreactive (IR) cells, and the effect of enucleation on the PV distribution in the superior colliculus (SC) in dog (Canis familiaris) and compared PV labeling to that of calbindin D28K (CB) and GABA. These cells formed three laminar tiers in the dog SC; 1) the upper superficial gray layer (SGL), 2) the lower optic layer (OL) and the upper intermediate gray layer, and 3) the deep layer. The third tier was not very distinct when compared with the other two tiers. The distribution of PV-IR cells is thus complementary to that of CB-IR tiers. Our present data on the distribution of PV-IR cells within the superficial layers are strikingly different from those in previously studied mammals, which show PV-IR cells within the lower SGL and upper OL. However, there were no distinct differences in distribution within the deep layers compared with that of previously studied mammals. PV-IR cells in the SC varied dramatically in morphology and size, and included round/oval, vertical fusiform, stellate, horizontal and pyriform cells. Two-color immunofluorescence revealed quantitatively that 11.67% of the PV-IR cells colocalized with GABA. Monocular enucleation appeared to have no effect on the distribution of PV-IR cells in the contralateral SC. Similar to CB, these data suggest that retinal projection may not control the expression of PV in the dog SC. These results provide important information for delineating similarities and differences in the neurochemical architecture of the visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jea-Young Lee
- Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, and Brain Science and Engineering Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, South Korea
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