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Greene MJ, Boehm AE, Vanston JE, Pandiyan VP, Sabesan R, Tuten WS. Unique yellow shifts for small and brief stimuli in the central retina. J Vis 2024; 24:2. [PMID: 38833255 DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.6.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The spectral locus of unique yellow was determined for flashes of different sizes (<11 arcmin) and durations (<500 ms) presented in and near the fovea. An adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope was used to minimize the effects of higher-order aberrations during simultaneous stimulus delivery and retinal imaging. In certain subjects, parafoveal cones were classified as L, M, or S, which permitted the comparison of unique yellow measurements with variations in local L/M ratios within and between observers. Unique yellow shifted to longer wavelengths as stimulus size or duration was reduced. This effect is most pronounced for changes in size and more apparent in the fovea than in the parafovea. The observed variations in unique yellow are not entirely predicted from variations in L/M ratio and therefore implicate neural processes beyond photoreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell J Greene
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra E Boehm
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - John E Vanston
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vimal P Pandiyan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ramkumar Sabesan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - William S Tuten
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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2
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Godat T, Kohout K, Parkins K, Yang Q, McGregor JE, Merigan WH, Williams DR, Patterson SS. Cone-Opponent Ganglion Cells in the Primate Fovea Tuned to Noncardinal Color Directions. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1738232024. [PMID: 38548340 PMCID: PMC11063829 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1738-23.2024] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
A long-standing question in vision science is how the three cone photoreceptor types-long (L), medium (M), and short (S) wavelength sensitive-combine to generate our perception of color. Hue perception can be described along two opponent axes: red-green and blue-yellow. Psychophysical measurements of color appearance indicate that the cone inputs to the red-green and blue-yellow opponent axes are M vs. L + S and L vs. M + S, respectively. However, the "cardinal directions of color space" revealed by psychophysical measurements of color detection thresholds following adaptation are L vs. M and S vs. L + M. These cardinal directions match the most common cone-opponent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the primate retina. Accordingly, the cone opponency necessary for color appearance is thought to be established in the cortex. While neurons with the appropriate M vs. L + S and L vs. M + S opponency have been reported in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus, their existence continues to be debated. Resolving this long-standing debate is necessary because a complete account of the cone opponency in the retinal output is critical for understanding how downstream neural circuits process color. Here, we performed adaptive optics calcium imaging to noninvasively measure foveal RGC light responses in the living Macaca fascicularis eye. We confirm the presence of L vs. M + S and M vs. L + S neurons with noncardinal cone opponency and demonstrate that cone-opponent signals in the retinal output are more diverse than classically thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Godat
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14611
| | - Kendall Kohout
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
| | - Keith Parkins
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
| | - Qiang Yang
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
| | - Juliette E McGregor
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - William H Merigan
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - David R Williams
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14611
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Sara S Patterson
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14607
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Zhang L, Cavallini M, Wang J, Xin R, Zhang Q, Feng G, Sanes JR, Peng YR. Evolutionary and developmental specialization of foveal cell types in the marmoset. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313820121. [PMID: 38598343 PMCID: PMC11032471 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313820121] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In primates, high-acuity vision is mediated by the fovea, a small specialized central region of the retina. The fovea, unique to the anthropoid lineage among mammals, undergoes notable neuronal morphological changes during postnatal maturation. However, the extent of cellular similarity across anthropoid foveas and the molecular underpinnings of foveal maturation remain unclear. Here, we used high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing to profile retinal cells of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), an early divergent in anthropoid evolution from humans, apes, and macaques. We generated atlases of the marmoset fovea and peripheral retina for both neonates and adults. Our comparative analysis revealed that marmosets share almost all their foveal types with both humans and macaques, highlighting a conserved cellular structure among primate foveas. Furthermore, by tracing the developmental trajectory of cell types in the foveal and peripheral retina, we found distinct maturation paths for each. In-depth analysis of gene expression differences demonstrated that cone photoreceptors and Müller glia (MG), among others, show the greatest molecular divergence between these two regions. Utilizing single-cell ATAC-seq and gene-regulatory network inference, we uncovered distinct transcriptional regulations differentiating foveal cones from their peripheral counterparts. Further analysis of predicted ligand-receptor interactions suggested a potential role for MG in supporting the maturation of foveal cones. Together, these results provide valuable insights into foveal development, structure, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Martina Cavallini
- Department of Ophthalmology and Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Junqiang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Ruiqi Xin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Qiangge Zhang
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Guoping Feng
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Joshua R. Sanes
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Yi-Rong Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology and Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
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Garcia-Marin V, Kelly JG, Hawken MJ. Neuronal composition of processing modules in human V1: laminar density for neuronal and non-neuronal populations and a comparison with macaque. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad512. [PMID: 38183210 PMCID: PMC10839852 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad512] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The neuronal composition of homologous brain regions in different primates is important for understanding their processing capacities. Primary visual cortex (V1) has been widely studied in different members of the catarrhines. Neuronal density is considered to be central in defining the structure-function relationship. In human, there are large variations in the reported neuronal density from prior studies. We found the neuronal density in human V1 was 79,000 neurons/mm3, which is 35% of the neuronal density previously determined in macaque V1. Laminar density was proportionally similar between human and macaque. In V1, the ocular dominance column (ODC) contains the circuits for the emergence of orientation preference and spatial processing of a point image in many mammalian species. Analysis of the total neurons in an ODC and of the full number of neurons in macular vision (the central 15°) indicates that humans have 1.3× more neurons than macaques even though the density of neurons in macaque is 3× the density in human V1. We propose that the number of neurons in a functional processing unit rather than the number of neurons under a mm2 of cortex is more appropriate for cortical comparisons across species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenna G Kelly
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York City, NY 10003, United States
| | - Michael J Hawken
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York City, NY 10003, United States
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Zhang L, Cavallini M, Wang J, Xin R, Zhang Q, Feng G, Sanes JR, Peng YR. Evolutionary and Developmental Specialization of Foveal Cell Types in the Marmoset. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.10.570996. [PMID: 38106142 PMCID: PMC10723441 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.10.570996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
In primates, high-acuity vision is mediated by the fovea, a small specialized central region of the retina. The fovea, unique to the anthropoid lineage among mammals, undergoes notable neuronal morphological changes during postnatal maturation. However, the extent of cellular similarity across anthropoid foveas and the molecular underpinnings of foveal maturation remain unclear. Here, we used high throughput single cell RNA sequencing to profile retinal cells of the common marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus ), an early divergent in anthropoid evolution from humans, apes, and macaques. We generated atlases of the marmoset fovea and peripheral retina for both neonates and adults. Our comparative analysis revealed that marmosets share almost all its foveal types with both humans and macaques, highlighting a conserved cellular structure among primate foveas. Furthermore, by tracing the developmental trajectory of cell types in the foveal and peripheral retina, we found distinct maturation paths for each. In-depth analysis of gene expression differences demonstrated that cone photoreceptors and Müller glia, among others, show the greatest molecular divergence between these two regions. Utilizing single-cell ATAC-seq and gene-regulatory network inference, we uncovered distinct transcriptional regulations differentiating foveal cones from their peripheral counterparts. Further analysis of predicted ligand-receptor interactions suggested a potential role for Müller glia in supporting the maturation of foveal cones. Together, these results provide valuable insights into foveal development, structure, and evolution. Significance statement The sharpness of our eyesight hinges on a tiny retinal region known as the fovea. The fovea is pivotal for primate vision and is susceptible to diseases like age-related macular degeneration. We studied the fovea in the marmoset-a primate with ancient evolutionary ties. Our data illustrated the cellular and molecular composition of its fovea across different developmental ages. Our findings highlighted a profound cellular consistency among marmosets, humans, and macaques, emphasizing the value of marmosets in visual research and the study of visual diseases.
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Crawford MA, Sinclair AJ, Wang Y, Schmidt WF, Broadhurst CL, Dyall SC, Horn L, Brenna JT, Johnson MR. Docosahexaenoic Acid Explains the Unexplained in Visual Transduction. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:1520. [PMID: 37998212 PMCID: PMC10670429 DOI: 10.3390/e25111520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In George Wald's Nobel Prize acceptance speech for "discoveries concerning the primary physiological and chemical visual processes in the eye", he noted that events after the activation of rhodopsin are too slow to explain visual reception. Photoreceptor membrane phosphoglycerides contain near-saturation amounts of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The visual response to a photon is a retinal cis-trans isomerization. The trans-state is lower in energy; hence, a quantum of energy is released equivalent to the sum of the photon and cis-trans difference. We hypothesize that DHA traps this energy, and the resulting hyperpolarization extracts the energized electron, which depolarizes the membrane and carries a function of the photon's energy (wavelength) to the brain. There, it contributes to the creation of the vivid images of our world that we see in our consciousness. This proposed revision to the visual process provides an explanation for these previously unresolved issues around the speed of information transfer and the purity of conservation of a photon's wavelength and supports observations of the unique and indispensable role of DHA in the visual process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Crawford
- Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK; (Y.W.); (M.R.J.)
| | - Andrew J. Sinclair
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia;
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Yiqun Wang
- Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK; (Y.W.); (M.R.J.)
| | - Walter F. Schmidt
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (W.F.S.); (C.L.B.)
| | - C. Leigh Broadhurst
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; (W.F.S.); (C.L.B.)
| | - Simon C. Dyall
- School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK;
| | | | - J. Thomas Brenna
- Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Dell Medical School, Austin, TX 78723, USA;
| | - Mark R. Johnson
- Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, Imperial College, London SW10 9NH, UK; (Y.W.); (M.R.J.)
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Kerschensteiner D. Losing, preserving, and restoring vision from neurodegeneration in the eye. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1019-R1036. [PMID: 37816323 PMCID: PMC10575673 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The retina is a part of the brain that sits at the back of the eye, looking out onto the world. The first neurons of the retina are the rod and cone photoreceptors, which convert changes in photon flux into electrical signals that are the basis of vision. Rods and cones are frequent targets of heritable neurodegenerative diseases that cause visual impairment, including blindness, in millions of people worldwide. This review summarizes the diverse genetic causes of inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) and their convergence onto common pathogenic mechanisms of vision loss. Currently, there are few effective treatments for IRDs, but recent advances in disparate areas of biology and technology (e.g., genome editing, viral engineering, 3D organoids, optogenetics, semiconductor arrays) discussed here enable promising efforts to preserve and restore vision in IRD patients with implications for neurodegeneration in less approachable brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kerschensteiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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8
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Godat T, Kohout K, Yang Q, Parkins K, McGregor JE, Merigan WH, Williams DR, Patterson SS. Cone-Opponent Ganglion Cells in the Primate Fovea Tuned to Non-Cardinal Color Directions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.15.557995. [PMID: 37745616 PMCID: PMC10516013 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.15.557995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
A long-standing question in vision science is how the three cone photoreceptor types - long (L), medium (M) and short (S) wavelength sensitive - combine to generate our perception of color. Hue perception can be described along two opponent axes: red-green and blue-yellow. Psychophysical measurements of color appearance indicate that the cone inputs to the red-green and blue-yellow opponent axes are M vs. L+S and L vs. M+S, respectively. However, the "cardinal directions of color space" revealed by psychophysical measurements of color detection thresholds are L vs. M and S vs. L+M. The cardinal directions match the most common cone-opponent retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the primate retina. Accordingly, the cone opponency necessary for color appearance is thought to be established in cortex. However, small populations with the appropriate M vs. L+S and L vs. M+S cone-opponency have been reported in large surveys of cone inputs to primate RGCs and their projections to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) yet their existence continues to be debated. Resolving this long-standing open question is needed as a complete account of the cone-opponency in the retinal output is critical for efforts to understand how downstream neural circuits process color. Here, we performed adaptive optics calcium imaging to longitudinally and noninvasively measurements of the foveal RGC light responses in the living macaque eye. We confirm the presence of L vs. M+S and M vs. L+S neurons with non-cardinal cone-opponency and demonstrate that cone-opponent signals in the retinal output are substantially more diverse than classically thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Godat
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627
| | - Kendall Kohout
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
| | - Qiang Yang
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
| | - Keith Parkins
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
| | - Juliette E. McGregor
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642
| | - William H. Merigan
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642
| | - David R. Williams
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
- Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627
- Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642
| | - Sara S. Patterson
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14607
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