Topic
Retinal ganglion cell
About: Retinal ganglion cell is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4656 publications have been published within this topic receiving 184847 citations. The topic is also known as: retinal ganglion cells & Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.
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TL;DR: A nuclear gene, OPA1, is described here a nuclear gene that maps within the candidate region and encodes a dynamin-related protein localized to mitochondria, demonstrating a role for mitochondria in retinal ganglion cell pathophysiology.
Abstract: Optic atrophy type 1 (OPA1, MIM 165500) is a dominantly inherited optic neuropathy occurring in 1 in 50,000 individuals that features progressive loss in visual acuity leading, in many cases, to legal blindness. Phenotypic variations and loss of retinal ganglion cells, as found in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), have suggested possible mitochondrial impairment. The OPA1 gene has been localized to 3q28-q29 (refs 13-19). We describe here a nuclear gene, OPA1, that maps within the candidate region and encodes a dynamin-related protein localized to mitochondria. We found four different OPA1 mutations, including frameshift and missense mutations, to segregate with the disease, demonstrating a role for mitochondria in retinal ganglion cell pathophysiology.
1,375 citations
TL;DR: Estimates suggest that visual field sensitivity in automated testing begins to decline soon after the initial loss of ganglion cells in human eyes with glaucoma, and that this decline is most pronounced in areas that had 0-dB sensitivity in the field test.
1,071 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Some retinal ganglion cells injured by glaucoma and by axotomy die by apoptosis, possibly because of the small proportion of cells that were dying at any given time.
Abstract: Purpose To investigate whether retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma and after axotomy occurs by apoptosis. Methods Chronic elevated eye pressure was produced in 20 monkey eyes, and the optic nerve was transected unilaterally in the orbit of 10 monkeys and 14 rabbits. Sixteen monkey and 14 rabbit eyes were studied as normal controls. Analytic methods included light and electron microscopy, histochemistry for DNA fragmentation (TUNEL method), and DNA electrophoresis in agarose gels. Results Dying ganglion cells in the experimental retinas exhibited morphologic features of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Cells with a positive reaction for DNA fragmentation were observed in eyes subjected to axotomy and experimental glaucoma but were only rarely encountered in control eyes. No evidence of internucleosomal fragmentation was detected electrophoretically, possibly because of the small proportion of cells that were dying at any given time. Conclusion Some retinal ganglion cells injured by glaucoma and by axotomy die by apoptosis.
954 citations
TL;DR: A GPI-anchored, 25 kDa glycoprotein that is a good candidate for a molecule involved in the guidance of temporal retinal axons during the formation of the topographically ordered retinotectal projection is purified and cloned and named RAGS (for repulsive axon guidance signal).
867 citations
TL;DR: Staining patterns after monocular enucleation revealed that the projections of these cells are overwhelmingly crossed except for the projection to the SCN, which is bilaterally symmetrical, and that other ganglion cells do contribute at least some retinal input to these targets.
Abstract: A rare type of ganglion cell in mammalian retina is directly photosensitive. These novel retinal photoreceptors express the photopigment melanopsin. They send axons directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), and olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN), thereby contributing to photic synchronization of circadian rhythms and the pupillary light reflex. Here, we sought to characterize more fully the projections of these cells to the brain. By targeting tau-lacZ to the melanopsin gene locus in mice, ganglion cells that would normally express melanopsin were induced to express, instead, the marker enzyme beta-galactosidase. Their axons were visualized by X-gal histochemistry or anti-beta-galactosidase immunofluorescence. Established targets were confirmed, including the SCN, IGL, OPN, ventral division of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv), and preoptic area, but the overall projections were more widespread than previously recognized. Targets included the lateral nucleus, peri-supraoptic nucleus, and subparaventricular zone of the hypothalamus, medial amygdala, margin of the lateral habenula, posterior limitans nucleus, superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray. There were also weak projections to the margins of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Co-staining with the cholera toxin B subunit to label all retinal afferents showed that melanopsin ganglion cells provide most of the retinal input to the SCN, IGL, and lateral habenula and much of that to the OPN, but that other ganglion cells do contribute at least some retinal input to these targets. Staining patterns after monocular enucleation revealed that the projections of these cells are overwhelmingly crossed except for the projection to the SCN, which is bilaterally symmetrical.
856 citations