Elsevier

Neuroscience

Volume 284, 22 January 2015, Pages 845-853
Neuroscience

Neuroscience Forefront Review
The injury resistant ability of melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.11.002Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • This paper has discussed morphological and physiological features of M1–M6 ipRGCs.

  • This is the first review to summarize the injury-resistant ability of ipRGCs.

  • The review has provided insight and possible future direction for ipRGC research.

Abstract

Neurons in the mammalian retina expressing the photopigment melanopsin have been identified as a class of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). This discovery more than a decade ago has opened up an exciting new field of retinal research, and following the initial identification of photosensitive ganglion cells, several subtypes have been described. A number of studies have shown that ipRGCs subserve photoentrainment of circadian rhythms. They also influence other non-image forming functions of the visual system, such as the pupillary light reflex, sleep, cognition, mood, light aversion and development of the retina. These novel photosensitive neurons also influence form vision by contributing to contrast detection. Furthermore, studies have shown that ipRGCs are more injury-resistant following optic nerve injury, in animal models of glaucoma, and in patients with mitochondrial optic neuropathies, i.e., Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy and dominant optic atrophy. There is also an indication that these cells may be resistant to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Herein we provide an overview of ipRGCs and discuss the injury-resistant character of these neurons under certain pathological and experimental conditions.

Abbreviations

cPAG
caudal periaqueductal gray
DOA
dominant optic atrophy
DRN
dorsal raphe nucleus
GCL
ganglion cell layer
IGL
intergeniculate leaflet
INL
inner nuclear layer
IOP
intraocular pressure
IPL
inner plexiform layer
ipRGCs
intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells
JAK/STAT
Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription
LGN
lateral geniculate nucleus
LHON
Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy
NMDA
N-methyl-d-aspartate
OPN
olivary pretectal nucleus
PACAP
pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide
RGCs
retinal ganglion cells
SCN
suprachiasmatic nucleus

Key words

melanopsin
intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell
injury
survival

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