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Rajendran Nair DS, Camarillo JCM, Lu G, Thomas BB. Measuring spatial visual loss in rats by retinotopic mapping of the superior colliculus using a novel multi-electrode array technique. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 405:110095. [PMID: 38403001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The retinotopic map property of the superior colliculus (SC) is a reliable indicator of visual functional changes in rodents. Electrophysiological mapping of the SC using a single electrode has been employed for measuring visual function in rat and mouse disease models. Single electrode mapping is highly laborious requiring long-term exposure to the SC surface and prolonged anesthetic conditions that can adversely affect the mapping data. NEW METHOD To avoid the above-mentioned issues, we fabricated a fifty-six (56) electrode multi-electrode array (MEA) for rapid and reliable visual functional mapping of the SC. Since SC is a dome-shaped structure, the array was made of electrodes with dissimilar tip lengths to enable simultaneous and uniform penetration of the SC. RESULTS SC mapping using the new MEA was conducted in retinal degenerate (RD) Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats and rats with focal retinal damage induced by green diode laser. For SC mapping, the MEA was advanced into the SC surface and the visual activities were recorded during full-filed light stimulation of the eye. Based on the morphological examination, the MEA electrodes covered most of the exposed SC area and penetrated the SC surface at a relatively uniform depth. MEA mapping in RCS rats (n=9) demonstrated progressive development of a scotoma in the SC that corresponded to the degree of photoreceptor loss. MEA mapping in the laser damaged rats demonstrated the presence of a scotoma in the SC area that corresponded to the location of retinal laser injury. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS AND CONCLUSIONS The use of MEA for SC mapping is advantageous over single electrode recording by enabling faster recordings and reducing anesthesia time. This study establishes the feasibility of the MEA technique for rapid and efficient SC mapping, particularly advantageous for evaluating therapeutic effects in retinal degenerate rat disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi S Rajendran Nair
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Juan Carlos-Martinez Camarillo
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States; USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Gengxi Lu
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States
| | - Biju B Thomas
- Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States; USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, University of Southern California, United States.
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2
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Pang JJ, Jiang X, Wu SM. Linear and Nonlinear Behaviors of the Photoreceptor Coupled Network. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1433232024. [PMID: 38423760 PMCID: PMC11026348 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1433-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptors are electrically coupled to one another, and the spatiotemporal properties of electrical synapses in a two-dimensional retinal network are still not well studied, because of the limitation of the single electrode or pair recording techniques which do not allow simultaneously measuring responses of multiple photoreceptors at various locations in the retina. A multiple electrode recording system is needed. In this study, we investigate the network properties of the two-dimensional rod coupled array of the salamander retina (both sexes were used) by using the newly available multiple patch electrode system that allows simultaneous recordings from up to eight cells and to determine the electrical connectivity among multiple rods. We found direct evidence that voltage signal spread in the rod-rod coupling network in the absence of I h (mediated by HCN channels) is passive and follows the linear cable equation. Under physiological conditions, I h shapes the network signal by progressively shortening the response time-to-peak of distant rods, compensating the time loss of signal traveling from distant rods to bipolar cell somas and facilitating synchronization of rod output signals. Under voltage-clamp conditions, current flow within the coupled rods follows Ohm's law, supporting the idea that nonlinear behaviors of the rod network are dependent on membrane voltage. Rod-rod coupling is largely symmetrical in the 2D array, and voltage-clamp blocking the next neighboring rod largely suppresses rod signal spread into the second neighboring rod, suggesting that indirect coupling pathways play a minor role in rod-rod coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Jie Pang
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Xiaolong Jiang
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Samuel M Wu
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
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3
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Son T, Ma G, Yao X. Functional OCT reveals anisotropic changes of retinal flicker-evoked vasodilation. Opt Lett 2024; 49:2121-2124. [PMID: 38621091 DOI: 10.1364/ol.520840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of anisotropic property of retinal biomechanics on vasodilation measurement. A custom-built optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for time-lapse imaging of flicker stimulation-evoked vessel lumen changes in mouse retinas. A comparative analysis revealed significantly larger (18.21%) lumen dilation in the axial direction compared to the lateral (10.77%) direction. The axial lumen dilation predominantly resulted from the top vessel wall movement toward the vitreous direction, whereas the bottom vessel wall remained stable. This observation indicates that the traditional vasodilation measurement in the lateral direction may result in an underestimated value.
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4
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Corna A, Cojocaru AE, Bui MT, Werginz P, Zeck G. Avoidance of axonal stimulation with sinusoidal epiretinal stimulation. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:026036. [PMID: 38547529 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad38de] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Neuromodulation, particularly electrical stimulation, necessitates high spatial resolution to achieve artificial vision with high acuity. In epiretinal implants, this is hindered by the undesired activation of distal axons. Here, we investigate focal and axonal activation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in epiretinal configuration for different sinusoidal stimulation frequencies.Approach.RGC responses to epiretinal sinusoidal stimulation at frequencies between 40 and 100 Hz were tested inex-vivophotoreceptor degenerated (rd10) isolated retinae. Experiments were conducted using a high-density CMOS-based microelectrode array, which allows to localize RGC cell bodies and axons at high spatial resolution.Main results.We report current and charge density thresholds for focal and distal axon activation at stimulation frequencies of 40, 60, 80, and 100 Hz for an electrode size with an effective area of 0.01 mm2. Activation of distal axons is avoided up to a stimulation amplitude of 0.23µA (corresponding to 17.3µC cm-2) at 40 Hz and up to a stimulation amplitude of 0.28µA (14.8µC cm-2) at 60 Hz. The threshold ratio between focal and axonal activation increases from 1.1 for 100 Hz up to 1.6 for 60 Hz, while at 40 Hz stimulation frequency, almost no axonal responses were detected in the tested intensity range. With the use of synaptic blockers, we demonstrate the underlying direct activation mechanism of the ganglion cells. Finally, using high-resolution electrical imaging and label-free electrophysiological axon tracking, we demonstrate the extent of activation in axon bundles.Significance.Our results can be exploited to define a spatially selective stimulation strategy avoiding axonal activation in future retinal implants, thereby solving one of the major limitations of artificial vision. The results may be extended to other fields of neuroprosthetics to achieve selective focal electrical stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Corna
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mai Thu Bui
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Werginz
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Günther Zeck
- Institute of Biomedical Electronics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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5
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Hou Y, Nanduri D, Granley J, Weiland JD, Beyeler M. Axonal stimulation affects the linear summation of single-point perception in three Argus II users. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:026031. [PMID: 38457841 PMCID: PMC11003296 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad31c4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Retinal implants use electrical stimulation to elicit perceived flashes of light ('phosphenes'). Single-electrode phosphene shape has been shown to vary systematically with stimulus parameters and the retinal location of the stimulating electrode, due to incidental activation of passing nerve fiber bundles. However, this knowledge has yet to be extended to paired-electrode stimulation.Approach.We retrospectively analyzed 3548 phosphene drawings made by three blind participants implanted with an Argus II Retinal Prosthesis. Phosphene shape (characterized by area, perimeter, major and minor axis length) and number of perceived phosphenes were averaged across trials and correlated with the corresponding single-electrode parameters. In addition, the number of phosphenes was correlated with stimulus amplitude and neuroanatomical parameters: electrode-retina and electrode-fovea distance as well as the electrode-electrode distance to ('between-axon') and along axon bundles ('along-axon'). Statistical analyses were conducted using linear regression and partial correlation analysis.Main results.Simple regression revealed that each paired-electrode shape descriptor could be predicted by the sum of the two corresponding single-electrode shape descriptors (p < .001). Multiple regression revealed that paired-electrode phosphene shape was primarily predicted by stimulus amplitude and electrode-fovea distance (p < .05). Interestingly, the number of elicited phosphenes tended to increase with between-axon distance (p < .05), but not with along-axon distance, in two out of three participants.Significance.The shape of phosphenes elicited by paired-electrode stimulation was well predicted by the shape of their corresponding single-electrode phosphenes, suggesting that two-point perception can be expressed as the linear summation of single-point perception. The impact of the between-axon distance on the perceived number of phosphenes provides further evidence in support of the axon map model for epiretinal stimulation. These findings contribute to the growing literature on phosphene perception and have important implications for the design of future retinal prostheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Hou
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Devyani Nanduri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Jacob Granley
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - James D Weiland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Michael Beyeler
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
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Friedrichsen K, Hsiang JC, Lin CI, McCoy L, Valkova K, Kerschensteiner D, Morgan JL. Subcellular pathways through VGluT3-expressing mouse amacrine cells provide locally tuned object-motion-selective signals in the retina. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2965. [PMID: 38580652 PMCID: PMC10997783 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46996-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
VGluT3-expressing mouse retinal amacrine cells (VG3s) respond to small-object motion and connect to multiple types of bipolar cells (inputs) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs, outputs). Because these input and output connections are intermixed on the same dendrites, making sense of VG3 circuitry requires comparing the distribution of synapses across their arbors to the subcellular flow of signals. Here, we combine subcellular calcium imaging and electron microscopic connectomic reconstruction to analyze how VG3s integrate and transmit visual information. VG3s receive inputs from all nearby bipolar cell types but exhibit a strong preference for the fast type 3a bipolar cells. By comparing input distributions to VG3 dendrite responses, we show that VG3 dendrites have a short functional length constant that likely depends on inhibitory shunting. This model predicts that RGCs that extend dendrites into the middle layers of the inner plexiform encounter VG3 dendrites whose responses vary according to the local bipolar cell response type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Friedrichsen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Jen-Chun Hsiang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Chin-I Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Liam McCoy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Katia Valkova
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daniel Kerschensteiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Josh L Morgan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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7
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de Guimaraes TAC, de Guimaraes IMC, Ali N, Kalitzeos A, Michaelides M. In-Depth Retinal Sensitivity Assessment With the MP3 Type S Microperimeter: A Methods Study. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2024; 13:14. [PMID: 38591946 PMCID: PMC11008759 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.4.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Retinal sensitivity is frequently listed as an end point in clinical trials, often with long working practices. The purpose of this methods study was to provide a new workflow and reduced test time for in-depth characterization of retinal sensitivity. Methods A workflow for the MP3-S microperimeter with detailed functional characterization of the retina under photopic, mesopic, and scotopic conditions was evaluated. Grids of 32 and 28 test positions for photopic/mesopic and scotopic, respectively, were tested in 12 healthy individuals and compared with an established 68-point grid for test time, mean sensitivity (MS), and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA). Results The mean test time (range; ±SD) was 10.5 minutes (8.4-14.9; ±2.0) in the 68-point grid and 4.3 minutes (3.8-5.0; ±0.4) in the 32-point grid, which was significantly different (P < 0.0001). The mean of difference in test time (±SD; 95% confidence interval) was 6.1 minutes (±2.0; 4.6-7.6). MS and BCEA were significantly correlated between grids (r = 0.89 and 0.74; P = 0.0005 and 0.014, respectively). Mean test time of subjects who underwent the full protocol (n = 4) was 2.15 hours. Conclusions The protocol suggested herein appears highly feasible with in-depth characterization of retinal function under different testing conditions and in a short test time. Translational Relevance The protocol described herein allows for characterization of the retina under different testing conditions and in a short test time, which is relevant due to its potential for patient prognostication and follow-up in clinical settings and also given its increasing role as a clinical trial end point.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thales A. C. de Guimaraes
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Naser Ali
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Angelos Kalitzeos
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michel Michaelides
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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8
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Fadda A, Martelli F, Zein WM, Jeffrey B, Placidi G, Sieving PA, Falsini B. Statistical Evaluation of ERG Responses: A New Method to Validate Cycle-by-Cycle Recordings in Advanced Retinal Degenerations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:3. [PMID: 38558093 PMCID: PMC10996996 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To describe and evaluate a novel method to determine the validity of measurements made using cycle-by-cycle (CxC) recording techniques in patients with advanced retinal degenerations (RD) having low-amplitude flicker electroretinogram (ERG) responses. Methods The method extends the original CxC recording algorithm introduced by Sieving et al., retaining the original recording setup and the preliminary analysis of raw data. Novel features include extended use of spectrum analysis, reduction of errors due to known sources, and a comprehensive statistical assessment using three different tests. The method was applied to ERG recordings from seven patients with RD and two patients with CNGB3 achromatopsia. Results The method was implemented as a Windows application to processes raw data obtained from a commercial ERG system, and it features a computational toolkit for statistical assessment of ERG recordings with amplitudes as low as 1 µV, commonly found in advanced RD patients. When recorded using conditions specific for eliciting cone responses, none of the CNGB3 patients had a CxC validated response, indicating that no signal artifacts were present with our recording conditions. A comparison of the presented method with conventional 30 Hz ERG was performed. Bland-Altman plots indicated good agreement (mean difference, -0.045 µV; limits of agreement, 0.193 to -0.282 µV) between the resulting amplitudes. Within-session test-retest variability was 15%, comparing favorably to the variability of standard ERG amplitudes. Conclusions This novel method extracts highly reliable clinical recordings of low-amplitude flicker ERGs and effectively detects artifactual responses. It has potential value both as a cone outcome variable and planning tool in clinical trials on natural history and treatment of advanced RDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonello Fadda
- Department of Cardiovascular and Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases, and Ageing, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Martelli
- Department of Cardiovascular and Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases, and Ageing, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Wadih M. Zein
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Brett Jeffrey
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Giorgio Placidi
- UOC Oculistica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul A. Sieving
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | - Benedetto Falsini
- Department of Ophthalmology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Thibos L, Lenner K, Thibos C. Carl Bergmann (1814-1865) and the discovery of the anatomical site in the retina where vision is initiated. J Hist Neurosci 2024; 33:180-203. [PMID: 38109332 DOI: 10.1080/0964704x.2023.2286991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
A preeminent quest of nineteenth-century visual neuroscience was to identify the anatomical elements of the retina that respond to light. A major breakthrough came in 1854, when Carl Bergmann discovered through direct observation that the human fovea contains only rods and cones. On this basis, he argued that these must necessarily be the light-sensitive elements (i.e., photoreceptors) that initiate vision. Bergmann also argued that Henle's fibers form part of the necessary anatomical link between these distal elements and the proximal ganglion cells, which transmit visual signals to the brain via the optic nerve. However, despite his achievement, Heinrich Müller, not Bergmann, is remembered as the discoverer of human photoreceptors in the literature. This article seeks to correct the record. It situates Bergmann's work alongside that of his contemporaries, sets out his arguments and the critique he received using archival documents, and makes this history more accessible for current readers by comparing what was said to what we know now. We argue that Bergmann's arguments are at least as compelling as those of Müller, and that he should be recognized as a codiscoverer of the anatomic site in the retina where vision is initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry Thibos
- School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Katharina Lenner
- Department of Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Cameron Thibos
- Department of Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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Cicinelli MV, Montesano G, Berni A, Scandale P, Ometto G, Introini U, Battaglia Parodi M, Bandello F, Miserocchi E, Marchese A. Photoreceptor Integrity in MEWDS: Longitudinal Structure-Function Correlations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:28. [PMID: 38630674 PMCID: PMC11033598 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate structure-function correlations in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) using microperimetry (MP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods Single-center prospective observational study including 14 eyes from 13 patients with MEWDS monitored over a median of 49.5 days (interquartile range = 29-92 days). Investigations focused on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), foveal granularity, and the Photoreceptor Reflectivity Ratio (PRR) as a measure of photoreceptor integrity. MP assessed average retinal threshold sensitivity (RTS) and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) for fixation stability. A linear mixed model was used to test associations and interactions among RTS, time, and clinical variables. A hierarchical linear mixed model was used to analyze structure-function relationships, addressing both individual and location-specific variations. Results Overall, 2340 MP locations were tested. PRR revealed a transient decrease within 30 days post-presentation, indicative of early photoreceptor disruption, followed by a progressive increase, signaling recovery. Significantly lower foveal sensitivity (RTS = 14.8 ± 7.4 vs. 22.5 ± 4.4 decibel [dB], P = 0.04) and increased fixation spread (63% BCEA = 1.26 ± 0.97 vs. 0.48 ± 0.35 deg2, P = 0.06) were noted in eyes with foveal granularity compared to those without. A significant increase in RTS was demonstrated over time (0.066 dB/day, P < 0.001), with a central-to-peripheral gradient of improvement. The interaction between follow-up time and baseline BCVA (P < 0.001) indicated more rapid improvement in eyes with worse initial vision. There was a robust, nonlinear association between PRR and RTS across all tested locations (P < 0.001), becoming asymptotic for sensitivity losses exceeding 20 dB. Conclusions Photoreceptor reflectivity accurately aligned with visual function in MEWDS on longitudinal examinations. The central-to-peripheral gradient of improvement may suggest specific vulnerabilities underlying the area around the disc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vittoria Cicinelli
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Montesano
- City, University of London, Optometry and Visual Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Berni
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Ometto
- City, University of London, Optometry and Visual Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ugo Introini
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Battaglia Parodi
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Bandello
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Miserocchi
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marchese
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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11
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Zhang X, Wang X, Zhu J, Chen K, Ullah R, Tong J, Shen Y. Retinal VIP-amacrine cells: their development, structure, and function. Eye (Lond) 2024; 38:1065-1076. [PMID: 38066110 PMCID: PMC11009269 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02844-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Amacrine cells (ACs) are the most structurally and functionally diverse neuron type in the retina. Different ACs have distinct functions, such as neuropeptide secretion and inhibitory connection. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) -ergic -ACs are retina gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) -ergic -ACs that were discovered long ago. They secrete VIP and form connections with bipolar cells (BCs), other ACs, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). They have a specific structure, density, distribution, and function. They play an important role in myopia, light stimulated responses, retinal vascular disease and other ocular diseases. Their significance in the study of refractive development and disease is increasing daily. However, a systematic review of the structure and function of retinal VIP-ACs is lacking. We discussed the detailed characteristics of VIP-ACs from every aspect across species and providing systematic knowledge base for future studies. Our review led to the main conclusion that retinal VIP-ACs develop early, and although their morphology and distribution across species are not the same, they have similar functions in a wide range of ocular diseases based on their function of secreting neuropeptides and forming inhibitory connections with other cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhong Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiru Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kuangqi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rahim Ullah
- Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Endocrinology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianping Tong
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ye Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Wang H, Dey O, Lagos WN, Behnam N, Callaway EM, Stafford BK. Parallel pathways carrying direction-and orientation-selective retinal signals to layer 4 of the mouse visual cortex. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113830. [PMID: 38386556 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Parallel visual pathways from the retina to the primary visual cortex (V1) via the lateral geniculate nucleus are common to many mammalian species, including mice, carnivores, and primates. However, it remains unclear which visual features present in both retina and V1 may be inherited from parallel pathways versus extracted by V1 circuits in the mouse. Here, using calcium imaging and rabies circuit tracing, we explore the relationships between tuning of layer 4 (L4) V1 neurons and their retinal ganglion cell (RGC) inputs. We find that subpopulations of L4 V1 neurons differ in their tuning for direction, orientation, spatial frequency, temporal frequency, and speed. Furthermore, we find that direction-tuned L4 V1 neurons receive input from direction-selective RGCs, whereas orientation-tuned L4 V1 neurons receive input from orientation-selective RGCs. These results suggest that direction and orientation tuning of V1 neurons may be partly inherited from parallel pathways originating in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Wang
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Oyshi Dey
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Willian N Lagos
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Noor Behnam
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Edward M Callaway
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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de Malmazet D, Kühn NK, Li C, Farrow K. Retinal origin of orientation but not direction selective maps in the superior colliculus. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1222-1233.e7. [PMID: 38417446 PMCID: PMC10980837 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Neurons in the mouse superior colliculus ("colliculus") are arranged in ordered spatial maps. While orientation-selective (OS) neurons form a concentric map aligned to the center of vision, direction-selective (DS) neurons are arranged in patches with changing preferences across the visual field. It remains unclear whether these maps are a consequence of feedforward input from the retina or local computations in the colliculus. To determine whether these maps originate in the retina, we mapped the local and global distribution of OS and DS retinal ganglion cell axon boutons using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging. We found that OS boutons formed patches that matched the distribution of OS neurons within the colliculus. DS boutons displayed fewer regional specializations, better reflecting the organization of DS neurons in the retina. Both eyes convey similar orientation but different DS inputs to the colliculus, as shown in recordings from retinal explants. These data demonstrate that orientation and direction maps within the colliculus are independent, where orientation maps are likely inherited from the retina, but direction maps require additional computations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel de Malmazet
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven 3001, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Biology & Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium; MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Norma K Kühn
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven 3001, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Biology & Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Chen Li
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven 3001, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Biology & Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Karl Farrow
- Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders, Leuven 3001, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Biology & Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven 3000, Belgium; VIB, Leuven 3001, Belgium; imec, Leuven 3001, Belgium.
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Pogoncheff G, Hu Z, Rokem A, Beyeler M. Explainable machine learning predictions of perceptual sensitivity for retinal prostheses. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:026009. [PMID: 38452381 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad310f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Retinal prostheses evoke visual precepts by electrically stimulating functioning cells in the retina. Despite high variance in perceptual thresholds across subjects, among electrodes within a subject, and over time, retinal prosthesis users must undergo 'system fitting', a process performed to calibrate stimulation parameters according to the subject's perceptual thresholds. Although previous work has identified electrode-retina distance and impedance as key factors affecting thresholds, an accurate predictive model is still lacking.Approach.To address these challenges, we (1) fitted machine learning models to a large longitudinal dataset with the goal of predicting individual electrode thresholds and deactivation as a function of stimulus, electrode, and clinical parameters ('predictors') and (2) leveraged explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to reveal which of these predictors were most important.Main results.Our models accounted for up to 76% of the perceptual threshold response variance and enabled predictions of whether an electrode was deactivated in a given trial with F1 and area under the ROC curve scores of up to 0.732 and 0.911, respectively. Our models identified novel predictors of perceptual sensitivity, including subject age, time since blindness onset, and electrode-fovea distance.Significance.Our results demonstrate that routinely collected clinical measures and a single session of system fitting might be sufficient to inform an XAI-based threshold prediction strategy, which has the potential to transform clinical practice in predicting visual outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen Pogoncheff
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Zuying Hu
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
| | - Ariel Rokem
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Michael Beyeler
- Department of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America
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15
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Chander PR, Hanson L, Chundekkad P, Awatramani GB. Neural Circuits Underlying Multifeature Extraction in the Retina. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e0910232023. [PMID: 37957014 PMCID: PMC10919202 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0910-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Classic ON-OFF direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) that encode the four cardinal directions were recently shown to also be orientation-selective. To clarify the mechanisms underlying orientation selectivity, we employed a variety of electrophysiological, optogenetic, and gene knock-out strategies to test the relative contributions of glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine (ACh) input that are known to drive DSGCs, in male and female mouse retinas. Extracellular spike recordings revealed that DSGCs respond preferentially to either vertical or horizontal bars, those that are perpendicular to their preferred-null motion axes. By contrast, the glutamate input to all four DSGC types measured using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques was found to be tuned along the vertical axis. Tuned glutamatergic excitation was heavily reliant on type 5A bipolar cells, which appear to be electrically coupled via connexin 36 containing gap junctions to the vertically oriented processes of wide-field amacrine cells. Vertically tuned inputs are transformed by the GABAergic/cholinergic "starburst" amacrine cells (SACs), which are critical components of the direction-selective circuit, into distinct patterns of inhibition and excitation. Feed-forward SAC inhibition appears to "veto" preferred orientation glutamate excitation in dorsal/ventral (but not nasal/temporal) coding DSGCs "flipping" their orientation tuning by 90° and accounts for the apparent mismatch between glutamate input tuning and the DSGC's spiking response. Together, these results reveal how two distinct synaptic motifs interact to generate complex feature selectivity, shedding light on the intricate circuitry that underlies visual processing in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Hanson
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 4A4, Canada
| | - Pavitra Chundekkad
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 4A4, Canada
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Hsiang JC, Shen N, Soto F, Kerschensteiner D. Distributed feature representations of natural stimuli across parallel retinal pathways. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1920. [PMID: 38429280 PMCID: PMC10907388 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46348-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
How sensory systems extract salient features from natural environments and organize them across neural pathways is unclear. Combining single-cell and population two-photon calcium imaging in mice, we discover that retinal ON bipolar cells (second-order neurons of the visual system) are divided into two blocks of four types. The two blocks distribute temporal and spatial information encoding, respectively. ON bipolar cell axons co-stratify within each block, but separate laminarly between them (upper block: diverse temporal, uniform spatial tuning; lower block: diverse spatial, uniform temporal tuning). ON bipolar cells extract temporal and spatial features similarly from artificial and naturalistic stimuli. In addition, they differ in sensitivity to coherent motion in naturalistic movies. Motion information is distributed across ON bipolar cells in the upper and the lower blocks, multiplexed with temporal and spatial contrast, independent features of natural scenes. Comparing the responses of different boutons within the same arbor, we find that axons of all ON bipolar cell types function as computational units. Thus, our results provide insights into the visual feature extraction from naturalistic stimuli and reveal how structural and functional organization cooperate to generate parallel ON pathways for temporal and spatial information in the mammalian retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Chun Hsiang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ning Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Florentina Soto
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - 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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Butt E, Wang BY, Shin A, Chen ZC, Bhuckory M, Shah S, Galambos L, Kamins T, Palanker D, Mathieson K. Three-dimensional electro-neural interfaces electroplated on subretinal prostheses. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:016030. [PMID: 38364290 PMCID: PMC10884765 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad2a37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Retinal prosthetics offer partial restoration of sight to patients blinded by retinal degenerative diseases through electrical stimulation of the remaining neurons. Decreasing the pixel size enables increasing prosthetic visual acuity, as demonstrated in animal models of retinal degeneration. However, scaling down the size of planar pixels is limited by the reduced penetration depth of the electric field in tissue. We investigated 3-dimensional (3d) structures on top of photovoltaic arrays for enhanced penetration of the electric field, permitting higher resolution implants.Approach.3D COMSOL models of subretinal photovoltaic arrays were developed to accurately quantify the electrodynamics during stimulation and verified through comparison to flat photovoltaic arrays. Models were applied to optimize the design of 3D electrode structures (pillars and honeycombs). Return electrodes on honeycomb walls vertically align the electric field with bipolar cells for optimal stimulation. Pillars elevate the active electrode, thus improving proximity to target neurons. The optimized 3D structures were electroplated onto existing flat subretinal prostheses.Main results.Simulations demonstrate that despite exposed conductive sidewalls, charge mostly flows via high-capacitance sputtered iridium oxide films topping the 3D structures. The 24μm height of honeycomb structures was optimized for integration with the inner nuclear layer cells in the rat retina, whilst 35μm tall pillars were optimized for penetrating the debris layer in human patients. Implantation of released 3D arrays demonstrates mechanical robustness, with histology demonstrating successful integration of 3D structures with the rat retinain-vivo.Significance. Electroplated 3D honeycomb structures produce vertically oriented electric fields, providing low stimulation thresholds, high spatial resolution, and high contrast for pixel sizes down to 20μm. Pillar electrodes offer an alternative for extending past the debris layer. Electroplating of 3D structures is compatible with the fabrication process of flat photovoltaic arrays, enabling much more efficient retinal stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Butt
- Institute of Photonics, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Bing-Yi Wang
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Andrew Shin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Zhijie Charles Chen
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Mohajeet Bhuckory
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Sarthak Shah
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ludwig Galambos
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Theodore Kamins
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Daniel Palanker
- Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Keith Mathieson
- Institute of Photonics, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Shabani H, Zrenner E, Rathbun DL, Hosseinzadeh Z. Electrical Input Filters of Ganglion Cells in Wild Type and Degenerating rd10 Mouse Retina as a Template for Selective Electrical Stimulation. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2024; 32:850-864. [PMID: 38294929 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2024.3360890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Bionic vision systems are currently limited by indiscriminate activation of all retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)- despite the dozens of known RGC types which each encode a different visual message. Here, we use spike-triggered averaging to explore how electrical responsiveness varies across RGC types toward the goal of using this variation to create type-selective electrical stimuli. A battery of visual stimuli and a randomly distributed sequence of electrical pulses were delivered to healthy and degenerating (4-week-old rd10) mouse retinas. Ganglion cell spike trains were recorded during stimulation using a 60-channel microelectrode array. Hierarchical clustering divided the recorded RGC populations according to their visual and electrical response patterns. Novel electrical stimuli were presented to assess type-specific selectivity. In healthy retinas, responses fell into 35 visual patterns and 14 electrical patterns. In degenerating retinas, responses fell into 12 visual and 23 electrical patterns. Few correspondences between electrical and visual response patterns were found except for the known correspondence of ON visual type with upward deflecting electrical type and OFF cells with downward electrical profiles. Further refinement of the approach presented here may yet yield the elusive nuances necessary for type-selective stimulation. This study greatly deepens our understanding of electrical input filters in the context of detailed visual response characterization and includes the most complete examination yet of degenerating electrical input filters.
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Chan SSH, Choi KY, Chan HHL. Paediatric norms for photopic electroretinogram testing based on a large cohort of Chinese preschool children. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2024; 9:e001393. [PMID: 38388004 PMCID: PMC10882341 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) is an objective test to determine the electroretinal activities in response to light stimulation for investigating retinal physiology and diagnosing retinal diseases. This study aimed to establish a reference data set of photopic electroretinogram (ERG) of Chinese preschool children in Hong Kong to facilitate clinical and research studies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Preschool children aged 3-7 years with normal vision were recruited from local kindergartens. Eye examinations, including cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL) and keratometry (K) measurements, were performed. ffERGs of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standard photopic flash and 30-Hz flicker protocols were measured using RETeval with Sensor Strip skin electrodes. ERG waveform characteristics were extracted, and relationships between ERG, age, SER, AL and K were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 479 children completed the measurements (mean age: 5.0±0.9 years, 45.5% female). Mean, 95% CIs, 5th-95th percentile range of the ERG parameters were reported. Age was positively associated with amplitudes of b-wave and 30-Hz flicker (p<0.01), but negatively associated with implicit times of b-wave and 30-Hz flicker (p<0.01). AL was significantly associated with all amplitudes of a-wave, b-wave and 30-Hz flicker (p≤0.01) and implicit time of both a-wave and 30-Hz flicker (p<0.05). K was positively associated only with 30-Hz flicker amplitude (p=0.01), and no association between all responses and SER. CONCLUSION Reference data set of photopic ERG of Chinese preschool children was established. Cross-sectional investigations revealed associations between ERG, age, SER and AL, which were speculated to further implicate the role of retina in refractive error development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Seen-Hang Chan
- Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kai Yip Choi
- Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Henry Ho-Lung Chan
- Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (CEVR), 17W Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Yilmaz A, Belušič G, J Foster J, Tocco C, Khaldy L, Dacke M. Polarisation vision in the dark: green-sensitive photoreceptors in the nocturnal ball-rolling dung beetle Escarabaeus satyrus. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246374. [PMID: 38284763 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Many insects utilise the polarisation pattern of the sky to adjust their travelling directions. The extraction of directional information from this sky-wide cue is mediated by specialised photoreceptors located in the dorsal rim area (DRA). While this part of the eye is known to be sensitive to the ultraviolet, blue or green component of skylight, the latter has only been observed in insects active in dim light. To address the functional significance of green polarisation sensitivity, we define the spectral and morphological adaptations of the DRA in a nocturnal ball-rolling dung beetle-the only family of insects demonstrated to orient to the dim polarisation pattern in the night sky. Intracellular recordings revealed polarisation-sensitive green photoreceptors in the DRA of Escarabaeus satyrus. Behavioural experiments verified the navigational relevance of this finding. To quantify the adaptive value of green sensitivity for celestial orientation at night, we also obtained the polarisation properties of the night sky in the natural habitat of the beetle. Calculations of relative photon catch revealed that under a moonlit sky the green-sensitive DRA photoreceptors can be expected to catch an order of magnitude more photons compared with the UV-sensitive photoreceptors in the main retina. The green-sensitive photoreceptors - which also show a range of morphological adaptations for enhanced sensitivity - provide E. satyrus with a highly sensitive system for the extraction of directional information from the night sky.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Yilmaz
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Gregor Belušič
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - James J Foster
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
- Neurobiology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstr. 10, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Claudia Tocco
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lana Khaldy
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Marie Dacke
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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He C, Peng J, Jin J, Shao W, Zheng Y, Zhong L. Comparison of retinal parameters between rhesus and cynomolgus macaques. Exp Anim 2024; 73:20-28. [PMID: 37460311 PMCID: PMC10877147 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.22-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonhuman primates are important research models for basic vision research, preclinical pathogenesis, and treatment studies due to strong similarities in retinal structure and function with humans. We compared retinal parameters between 10 healthy normal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and 10 cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) by optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. The Heidelberg Spectralis® HRA+OCT and Roland multifocal electrophysiometer were used to analyze retinal morphology, multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs), and full-field electroretinograms (ff-ERGs). Mean retinal thickness was lowest in the central fovea of macaques and did not differ significantly between species, but the retinal thicknesses of the nerve fiber ganglion cell layer and the inner plexiform layer were significantly different. The amplitude density of the N1 wave was lower in rhesus macaques than in cynomolgus macaques in ring and quadrant areas. Dark-adapted 3.0 oscillatory potentials (reflection of amacrine cell activity) and light-adapted 30-hz flicker ERG (a sensitive cone-pathway-driven response) waveforms of the ff-ERG were similar in both species, while the times to peaks in dark-adapted 0.01 ERG (the rod-driven response of bipolar cells) and dark-adapted 3.0 ERG (combined rod and cone system responses) as well as the implicit times of the a- and b-waves in light-adapted 3.0 ERG (the single-flash cone response) were substantially different. This study provides normative retinal parameters for nonhuman primate research on basic and clinical ophthalmology, as well as a reference for researchers in the appropriate selection of rhesus or cynomolgus macaques as models for ophthalmology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengjie He
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510060, P.R. China
| | - Jingyi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510060, P.R. China
| | - Jiayi Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510060, P.R. China
| | - Wanwen Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510060, P.R. China
| | - Yongxin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510060, P.R. China
| | - Liuxueying Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, 510060, P.R. China
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Boff JM, Shrestha AP, Madireddy S, Viswaprakash N, Della Santina L, Vaithianathan T. The Interplay between Neurotransmitters and Calcium Dynamics in Retinal Synapses during Development, Health, and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2226. [PMID: 38396913 PMCID: PMC10889697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The intricate functionality of the vertebrate retina relies on the interplay between neurotransmitter activity and calcium (Ca2+) dynamics, offering important insights into developmental processes, physiological functioning, and disease progression. Neurotransmitters orchestrate cellular processes to shape the behavior of the retina under diverse circumstances. Despite research to elucidate the roles of individual neurotransmitters in the visual system, there remains a gap in our understanding of the holistic integration of their interplay with Ca2+ dynamics in the broader context of neuronal development, health, and disease. To address this gap, the present review explores the mechanisms used by the neurotransmitters glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, dopamine, and acetylcholine (ACh) and their interplay with Ca2+ dynamics. This conceptual outline is intended to inform and guide future research, underpinning novel therapeutic avenues for retinal-associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johane M Boff
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Abhishek P Shrestha
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Saivikram Madireddy
- College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Nilmini Viswaprakash
- Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | | | - Thirumalini Vaithianathan
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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23
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Prinz J, Walter P, Liu H, Prokosch V. The Impact of Aging on the Function of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2024; 241:162-169. [PMID: 38412980 DOI: 10.1055/a-2239-0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for retinal neurodegenerative diseases. Aged mammalian retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) lack the ability to regenerate axons after injury. Rodent models suggest that older age increases the vulnerability of RGCs to injury and impairs RGC function as well as their functional recovery. Molecular changes - including decreased circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - might contribute to impaired RGC dendritic extension during aging. Moreover, age-related mitochondrial dysfunction plays a major role in aging processes, as it leads to reduced adenosine triphosphate and increased generation of reactive oxygen species. Autophagy activity is necessary for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and decreases with aging in the central nervous system. During aging, vascular insufficiency may lead to impaired oxygen and nutrient supply to RGCs. Microglial cells undergo morphological changes and functional impairment with aging, which might compromise retinal homeostasis and promote an inflammatory environment. Addressing these age-related changes by means of a low-energy diet, exercise, and neurotrophic factors might prevent age-related functional impairment of RGCs. This review focuses on the current understanding of aging RGCs and key players modulating those underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Prinz
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Walter
- Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hanhan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Verena Prokosch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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24
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Kerschensteiner D, Feller MB. Mapping the Retina onto the Brain. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041512. [PMID: 38052498 PMCID: PMC10835620 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Vision begins in the retina, which extracts salient features from the environment and encodes them in the spike trains of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the output neurons of the eye. RGC axons innervate diverse brain areas (>50 in mice) to support perception, guide behavior, and mediate influences of light on physiology and internal states. In recent years, complete lists of RGC types (∼45 in mice) have been compiled, detailed maps of their dendritic connections drawn, and their light responses surveyed at scale. We know less about the RGCs' axonal projection patterns, which map retinal information onto the brain. However, some organizing principles have emerged. Here, we review the strategies and mechanisms that govern developing RGC axons and organize their innervation of retinorecipient brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kerschensteiner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Department of Neuroscience
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Marla B Feller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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25
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Steel A, Silson EH, Garcia BD, Robertson CE. A retinotopic code structures the interaction between perception and memory systems. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:339-347. [PMID: 38168931 PMCID: PMC10923171 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Conventional views of brain organization suggest that regions at the top of the cortical hierarchy processes internally oriented information using an abstract amodal neural code. Despite this, recent reports have described the presence of retinotopic coding at the cortical apex, including the default mode network. What is the functional role of retinotopic coding atop the cortical hierarchy? Here we report that retinotopic coding structures interactions between internally oriented (mnemonic) and externally oriented (perceptual) brain areas. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we observed robust inverted (negative) retinotopic coding in category-selective memory areas at the cortical apex, which is functionally linked to the classic (positive) retinotopic coding in category-selective perceptual areas in high-level visual cortex. These functionally linked retinotopic populations in mnemonic and perceptual areas exhibit spatially specific opponent responses during both bottom-up perception and top-down recall, suggesting that these areas are interlocked in a mutually inhibitory dynamic. These results show that retinotopic coding structures interactions between perceptual and mnemonic neural systems, providing a scaffold for their dynamic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Steel
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Edward H Silson
- Psychosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Brenda D Garcia
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Caroline E Robertson
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
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26
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Yoshimatsu T, Baden T. New twists in the evolution of retinal direction selectivity. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002538. [PMID: 38422167 PMCID: PMC10903858 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
In mammals, starburst amacrine cells are centrally involved in motion vision and a new study in PLOS Biology, by Yan and colleagues finds that zebrafish have them, too. They coexist with a second pair of starburst-like neurons, but neither appears to be strongly motion selective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Yoshimatsu
- Department of the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Tom Baden
- Center for Sensory Neuroscience and Computation, Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, United Kingdom
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27
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Dyballa L, Rudzite AM, Hoseini MS, Thapa M, Stryker MP, Field GD, Zucker SW. Population encoding of stimulus features along the visual hierarchy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317773121. [PMID: 38227668 PMCID: PMC10823231 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317773121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The retina and primary visual cortex (V1) both exhibit diverse neural populations sensitive to diverse visual features. Yet it remains unclear how neural populations in each area partition stimulus space to span these features. One possibility is that neural populations are organized into discrete groups of neurons, with each group signaling a particular constellation of features. Alternatively, neurons could be continuously distributed across feature-encoding space. To distinguish these possibilities, we presented a battery of visual stimuli to the mouse retina and V1 while measuring neural responses with multi-electrode arrays. Using machine learning approaches, we developed a manifold embedding technique that captures how neural populations partition feature space and how visual responses correlate with physiological and anatomical properties of individual neurons. We show that retinal populations discretely encode features, while V1 populations provide a more continuous representation. Applying the same analysis approach to convolutional neural networks that model visual processing, we demonstrate that they partition features much more similarly to the retina, indicating they are more like big retinas than little brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Dyballa
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | | | - Mahmood S. Hoseini
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Mishek Thapa
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Michael P. Stryker
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Greg D. Field
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Steven W. Zucker
- Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
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28
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Poudel S, Jin J, Rahimi-Nasrabadi H, Dellostritto S, Dul MW, Viswanathan S, Alonso JM. Contrast Sensitivity of ON and OFF Human Retinal Pathways in Myopia. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1487232023. [PMID: 38050109 PMCID: PMC10860621 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1487-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The human visual cortex processes light and dark stimuli with ON and OFF pathways that are differently modulated by luminance contrast. We have previously demonstrated that ON cortical pathways have higher contrast sensitivity than OFF cortical pathways and the difference increases with luminance range (defined as the maximum minus minimum luminance in the scene). Here, we demonstrate that these ON-OFF cortical differences are already present in the human retina and that retinal responses measured with electroretinography are more affected by reductions in luminance range than cortical responses measured with electroencephalography. Moreover, we show that ON-OFF pathway differences measured with electroretinography become more pronounced in myopia, a visual disorder that elongates the eye and blurs vision at far distance. We find that, as the eye axial length increases across subjects, ON retinal pathways become less responsive, slower in response latency, less sensitive, and less effective and slower at driving pupil constriction. Based on these results, we conclude that myopia is associated with a deficit in ON pathway function that decreases the ability of the retina to process low contrast and regulate retinal illuminance in bright environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Poudel
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
| | - Jianzhong Jin
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
| | - Hamed Rahimi-Nasrabadi
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
| | - Stephen Dellostritto
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
| | - Mitchell W Dul
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
| | - Suresh Viswanathan
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
| | - Jose-Manuel Alonso
- Department of Biological and Visual Sciences, State University of New York College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036
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29
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Hecht RM, Shi Q, Garrett TR, Sivyer B, Morgans C. Split Retina as an Improved Flatmount Preparation for Studying Inner Nuclear Layer Neurons in Vertebrate Retina. J Vis Exp 2024. [PMID: 38314798 DOI: 10.3791/65757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Bipolar cells and horizontal cells of the vertebrate retina are the first neurons to process visual information after photons are detected by photoreceptors. They perform fundamental operations such as light adaptation, contrast sensitivity, and spatial and color opponency. A complete understanding of the precise circuitry and biochemical mechanisms that govern their behavior will advance visual neuroscience research and ophthalmological medicine. However, current preparations for examining bipolar and horizontal cells (retinal whole mounts and vertical slices) are limited in their capacity to capture the anatomy and physiology of these cells. In this work, we present a method for removing photoreceptor cell bodies from live, flatmount mouse retinas, providing enhanced access to bipolar and horizontal cells for efficient patch clamping and rapid immunolabeling. Split retinas are prepared by sandwiching an isolated mouse retina between two pieces of nitrocellulose, then gently peeling them apart. The separation splits the retina just above the outer plexiform layer to yield two pieces of nitrocellulose, one containing the photoreceptor cell bodies and another containing the remaining inner retina. Unlike vertical retina slices, the split retina preparation does not sever the dendritic processes of inner retinal neurons, allowing for recordings from bipolar and horizontal cells that integrate the contributions of gap junction-coupled networks and wide-field amacrine cells. This work demonstrates the versatility of this preparation for the study of horizontal and bipolar cells in electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M Hecht
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University
| | - Qing Shi
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University
| | | | | | - Catherine Morgans
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University;
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30
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Zueva MV, Neroeva NV, Zhuravleva AN, Bogolepova AN, Kotelin VV, Fadeev DV, Tsapenko IV. Fractal Phototherapy in Maximizing Retina and Brain Plasticity. Adv Neurobiol 2024; 36:585-637. [PMID: 38468055 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The neuroplasticity potential is reduced with aging and impairs during neurodegenerative diseases and brain and visual system injuries. This limits the brain's capacity to repair the structure and dynamics of its activity after lesions. Maximization of neuroplasticity is necessary to provide the maximal CNS response to therapeutic intervention and adaptive reorganization of neuronal networks in patients with degenerative pathology and traumatic injury to restore the functional activity of the brain and retina.Considering the fractal geometry and dynamics of the healthy brain and the loss of fractality in neurodegenerative pathology, we suggest that the application of self-similar visual signals with a fractal temporal structure in the stimulation therapy can reactivate the adaptive neuroplasticity and enhance the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation. This proposition was tested in the recent studies. Patients with glaucoma had a statistically significant positive effect of fractal photic therapy on light sensitivity and the perimetric MD index, which shows that methods of fractal stimulation can be a novel nonpharmacological approach to neuroprotective therapy and neurorehabilitation. In healthy rabbits, it was demonstrated that a long-term course of photostimulation with fractal signals does not harm the electroretinogram (ERG) and retina structure. Rabbits with modeled retinal atrophy showed better dynamics of the ERG restoration during daily stimulation therapy for a week in comparison with the controls. Positive changes in the retinal function can indirectly suggest the activation of its adaptive plasticity and the high potential of stimulation therapy with fractal visual stimuli in a nonpharmacological neurorehabilitation, which requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Zueva
- Department of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia V Neroeva
- Department of Pathology of the Retina and Optic Nerve, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasia N Zhuravleva
- Department of Glaucoma, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna N Bogolepova
- Department of neurology, neurosurgery and medical genetics, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladislav V Kotelin
- Department of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V Fadeev
- Scientific Experimental Center Department, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V Tsapenko
- Department of Clinical Physiology of Vision, Helmholtz National Medical Research Center of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia
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31
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Patterson SS, Girresch RJ, Mazzaferri MA, Bordt AS, Piñon-Teal WL, Jesse BD, Perera DCW, Schlepphorst MA, Kuchenbecker JA, Chuang AZ, Neitz J, Marshak DW, Ogilvie JM. Synaptic Origins of the Complex Receptive Field Structure in Primate Smooth Monostratified Retinal Ganglion Cells. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0280-23.2023. [PMID: 38290840 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0280-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in studying the receptive fields of the most common primate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) types, such as parasol RGCs. Much less is known about the rarer primate RGC types and the circuitry that gives rise to noncanonical receptive field structures. The goal of this study was to analyze synaptic inputs to smooth monostratified RGCs to determine the origins of their complex spatial receptive fields, which contain isolated regions of high sensitivity called "hotspots." Interestingly, smooth monostratified RGCs co-stratify with the well-studied parasol RGCs and are thus constrained to receiving input from bipolar and amacrine cells with processes sharing the same layer, raising the question of how their functional differences originate. Through 3D reconstructions of circuitry and synapses onto ON smooth monostratified and ON parasol RGCs from central macaque retina, we identified four distinct sampling strategies employed by smooth and parasol RGCs to extract diverse response properties from co-stratifying bipolar and amacrine cells. The two RGC types differed in the proportion of amacrine cell input, relative contributions of co-stratifying bipolar cell types, amount of synaptic input per bipolar cell, and spatial distribution of bipolar cell synapses. Our results indicate that the smooth RGC's complex receptive field structure arises through spatial asymmetries in excitatory bipolar cell input which formed several discrete clusters comparable with physiologically measured hotspots. Taken together, our results demonstrate how the striking differences between ON parasol and ON smooth monostratified RGCs arise from distinct strategies for sampling a common set of synaptic inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S Patterson
- Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NewYork 14617
| | - Rebecca J Girresch
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63103
| | - Marcus A Mazzaferri
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104
| | - Andrea S Bordt
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Wendy L Piñon-Teal
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63103
| | - Brett D Jesse
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63103
| | | | | | - James A Kuchenbecker
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104
| | - Alice Z Chuang
- Departments of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Jay Neitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104
| | - David W Marshak
- Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas 77030
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32
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Forsthofer M, Gordy C, Kolluri M, Straka H. Bilateral Retinofugal Pathfinding Impairments Limit Behavioral Compensation in Near-Congenital One-Eyed Xenopus laevis. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0371-23.2023. [PMID: 38164595 PMCID: PMC10849038 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0371-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
To generate a coherent visual percept, information from both eyes must be appropriately transmitted into the brain, where binocular integration forms the substrate for visuomotor behaviors. To establish the anatomical substrate for binocular integration, the presence of bilateral eyes and interaction of both optic nerves during retinotectal development play a key role. However, the extent to which embryonic monocularly derived visual circuits can convey visuomotor behaviors is unknown. In this study, we assessed the retinotectal anatomy and visuomotor performance of embryonically generated one-eyed tadpoles. In one-eyed animals, the axons of retinal ganglion cells from the singular remaining eye exhibited striking irregularities in their central projections in the brain, generating a noncanonical ipsilateral retinotectal projection. This data is indicative of impaired pathfinding abilities. We further show that these novel projections are correlated with an impairment of behavioral compensation for the loss of one eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Forsthofer
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
| | - Clayton Gordy
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
| | - Meghna Kolluri
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
| | - Hans Straka
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg 82152, Germany
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33
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Dubois MA, Pelletier CA, Mérette C, Jomphe V, Turgeon R, Bélanger RE, Grondin S, Hébert M. Evaluation of electroretinography (ERG) parameters as a biomarker for ADHD. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 127:110807. [PMID: 37290571 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The retina is recognized as an accessible part of the brain due to their common embryonic origin. The electroretinogram (ERG) has proven to be a valuable tool for detecting schizophrenia and bipolarity. We therefore investigated its ability to detect ADHD. METHODS The cone and rod luminance response functions of the ERG were recorded in 26 ADHD subjects (17 women and 9 men) and 25 controls (16 women and 9 men). RESULTS No significant differences were found between the mixed groups, but sexual dysmorphia was observed in the significant results. In males, a significant prolonged cone a-wave latency was observed in the ADHD group. In females, we observed a significant decrease in the cone a- and b-wave amplitudes and a trend for a prolonged cone b-wave latency as well as a higher scotopic mixed rod-cone a-wave in the ADHD group. CONCLUSION The data obtained in this study show the potential of the ERG to detect ADHD, warranting further large-scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-André Dubois
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada; School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Charles-Antoine Pelletier
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Chantal Mérette
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Valérie Jomphe
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Rose Turgeon
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Richard E Bélanger
- CHU de Québec Research Centre, Quebec, QC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Grondin
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Marc Hébert
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et des Services Sociaux de la Capitale Nationale, Quebec, QC, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.
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34
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Joylin S, Mutalik S, Kalaivani M, Shenoy RP, Ghosh M, Nishitha, Kumar EOAM, Theruveethi N. Influence of different LED wavelengths on retinal melatonin levels - A rodent study. Sci Total Environ 2023; 904:166665. [PMID: 37652369 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal melatonin is crucial for neuroprotection. Exposure to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) affects retinal neurons, possibly influencing retinal melatonin levels. Hence, we aimed to quantify the retinal melatonin level with different LED wavelengths. METHOD A total of 24 Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 in each group) as normal controls (NC), blue light (BL), white light (WL), and yellow light (YL). The rats in the experimental groups were exposed to different wavelengths of LEDs for 28 days (12:12 h light-dark cycle) with uniform illumination of 450-500 lx. Following exposure, the rats were subjected to behavioral tests such as passive avoidance and elevated plus maze tests. Following the behavior tests, the rats were sacrificed, eyes were enucleated, and retinal tissue was stored at -80 °C. The homogenized retina was used for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and melatonin quantification using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. RESULTS Passive avoidance test revealed a significant difference across the groups (p < 0.0004). The BL exposure group demonstrated increased latency to enter the dark compartment (DC) and impaired motor memory. The elevated plus maze test revealed a significant difference across all the groups (p < 0.012), where the time spent in the closed arm was greater in the BL exposure group. Comparison of ROS levels revealed a significant difference across the groups (p < 0.0001), with increased nitric oxide concentrations in the experimental groups. Melatonin levels were significantly decreased in the light exposure groups (p < 0.0001) compared to the NC group. CONCLUSION Cumulative exposure to different LED wavelengths resulted in increased anxiety with impaired motor activity. This was also complemented by the addition of oxidative stress leading to decreased melatonin levels in the retina, which might trigger retinal neuronal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stelyna Joylin
- Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Srinivas Mutalik
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Manokaran Kalaivani
- Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Revathi P Shenoy
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Mousumi Ghosh
- Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Nishitha
- Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Elizebeth Olive Akansha Manoj Kumar
- Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India; College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nagarajan Theruveethi
- Department of Optometry, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
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35
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Kish KE, Yuan A, Weiland JD. Patient-specific computational models of retinal prostheses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22271. [PMID: 38097732 PMCID: PMC10721907 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49580-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal prostheses stimulate inner retinal neurons to create visual perception for blind patients. Implanted arrays have many small electrodes. Not all electrodes induce perception at the same stimulus amplitude, requiring clinicians to manually establish a visual perception threshold for each one. Phosphenes created by single-electrode stimuli can also vary in shape, size, and brightness. Computational models provide a tool to predict inter-electrode variability and automate device programming. In this study, we created statistical and patient-specific field-cable models to investigate inter-electrode variability across seven epiretinal prosthesis users. Our statistical analysis revealed that retinal thickness beneath the electrode correlated with perceptual threshold, with a significant fixed effect across participants. Electrode-retina distance and electrode impedance also correlated with perceptual threshold for some participants, but these effects varied by individual. We developed a novel method to construct patient-specific field-cable models from optical coherence tomography images. Predictions with these models significantly correlated with perceptual threshold for 80% of participants. Additionally, we demonstrated that patient-specific field-cable models could predict retinal activity and phosphene size. These computational models could be beneficial for determining optimal stimulation settings in silico, circumventing the trial-and-error testing of a large parameter space in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Kish
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48105, USA
- BioInterfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48105, USA
| | - Alex Yuan
- Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, 44195, USA
| | - James D Weiland
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48105, USA.
- BioInterfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48105, USA.
- Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48105, USA.
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36
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Tsay K, Safari S, Abou-Samra A, Kremers J, Tzekov R. Pre-stimulus bioelectrical activity in light-adapted ERG under blue versus white background. Vis Neurosci 2023; 40:E004. [PMID: 38087845 PMCID: PMC11016353 DOI: 10.1017/s0952523823000032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
To compare the baseline signal between two conditions used to generate the photopic negative response (PhNR) of the full-field electroretinogram (ERG): red flash on a blue background (RoB) and white flash on a white background (LA3). The secondary purpose is to identify how the level of pre-stimulus signal affects obtaining an unambiguous PhNR component. A retrospective chart review was conducted on four cohorts of patients undergoing routine ERG testing. In each group, LA3 was recorded the same way while RoB was generated differently using various luminances of red and blue light. The background bioelectrical activity 30 ms before the flash was extracted, and the root mean square (RMS) of the signal was calculated and compared between RoB and LA3 using Wilcoxon test. Pre-stimulus noise was significantly higher under RoB stimulation versus LA3 in all four conditions for both right and left eyes (ratio RoB/LA3 RMS 1.70 and 1.57 respectively, p < 0.033). There was also no significant difference between the RMS of either LA3 or RoB across protocols, indicating that the baseline noise across cohorts were comparable. Additionally, pre-stimulus noise was higher in signals where PhNR was not clearly identifiable as an ERG component versus signals with the presence of unambiguous PhNR component under RoB in all four groups for both eyes (p < 0.05), whereas the difference under LA3 was less pronounced. Our study suggests that LA3 produces less background bioelectrical activity, likely due to decreased facial muscle activity. As it seems that the pre-stimulus signal level affects PhNR recordability, LA3 may also produce a better-quality signal compared to RoB. Therefore, until conditions for a comparable bioelectrical activity under RoB are established, we believe that LA3 should be considered at least as a supplementary method to evaluate retinal ganglion cell function by ERG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Tsay
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Sara Safari
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Jan Kremers
- University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Radouil Tzekov
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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Abstract
Contributions of the inner retinal photopigment melanopsin to human visual perception are incompletely understood. Here, we use a four-primary display to produce stimuli differing in melanopsin versus cone contrast in psychophysical paradigms in eight subjects with normal color vision. We address two predictions from electrophysiological recordings of the melanopsin system in non-human mammals: melanopsin influences color and/or supports image persistence under visual fixation. We first construct chromatic contrast sensitivity contours for stimuli differing in melanopsin excitation presented as a central annulus (10°) or peripheral (22.5°) spot. We find that although including melanopsin contrast produces modest changes in the average chromatic coordinates in both eccentricities, this occurs equally at low (0.5 Hz) and higher (3.75 Hz) temporal frequencies, arguing that it reflects divergence in cone spectral sensitivity in our participants from that captured in standardized cone fundamentals rather than a melanopsin contribution to color. We continue to ask whether the established ability of melanopsin to sustain firing of visual neurons under extended light exposure has a visual correlate, using the optical illusion of Troxler fading in which blurred spots in periphery disappear during visual fixation. We find that introducing additional melanopsin contrast (+28% Michelson contrast) to either bright or dark spots increases fading latency by 35% ± 8.8% and 41% ± 13.6%, respectively. Our data argue that the primary contribution of melanopsin to perception under these conditions is not to provide a color percept but rather to enhance persistence of low spatial frequency patterns during visual fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Woelders
- Division of Neuroscience and Centre for Biological Timing, School of Biology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, M13 9PT Manchester, UK.
| | - Annette E Allen
- Division of Neuroscience and Centre for Biological Timing, School of Biology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, M13 9PT Manchester, UK
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Division of Neuroscience and Centre for Biological Timing, School of Biology, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Upper Brook Street, M13 9PT Manchester, UK.
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Vlasits A, Korympidou MM, Strauss S, Schubert T, Franke K, Berens P, Euler T. Invited Session III: Diversity in chromatic processing across the animal kingdom: Color processing in the mouse retina. J Vis 2023; 23:14. [PMID: 38109634 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Across species, specialized retinal circuits allow animals to extract visual information from their environments. How retinal circuits extract relevant visual information is a major area of inquiry. In the mouse retina, cone photoreceptors possess a gradient of opsin expression leading to uneven detection of colors across visual space. However, at the output of the retina, ganglion cells' color preferences deviate from this gradient, suggesting that circuits in the retina may alter the color information before sending it to the brain. We explored how circuits in the retina shape chromatic information, focusing on the retina's interneurons, amacrine cells and bipolar cells. We found that inhibitory amacrine cells rebalance color preferences, leading to diverse color selectivity throughout retinal space. Since amacrine cells vary widely across species, these cells are poised to tune the chromatic information sent to the brain to each species' environmental niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vlasits
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University
| | | | - Sarah Strauss
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen
| | - Timm Schubert
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen
| | | | - Philipp Berens
- Tuebingen AI Center, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tuebingen
| | - Thomas Euler
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tuebingen
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Wong R. Boynton Lecture: Wiring specificity and plasticity of the vertebrate retina. J Vis 2023; 23:2. [PMID: 38109646 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vision relies on the output of the many functionally distinct and precisely wired circuits of the retina. Using transgenic techniques, imaging methods and electrophysiology, we seek to uncover the developmental mechanisms that help establish the wiring specificity of retinal circuits in vertebrates. Moreover, because injury or disease can cause rewiring after maturation, we are also reconstructing primate retinal circuits impacted by the loss of input, in order to identify the challenges to circuit repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Wong
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington
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40
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Wang J, Wang Y, Guan W, Zhao YE. Full-field electroretinogram recorded with skin electrodes in 6- to 12-year-old children. Doc Ophthalmol 2023; 147:179-188. [PMID: 37530953 PMCID: PMC10638173 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-023-09944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the full-field electroretinogram (ffERG) parameters, including the light-adapted (LA) 3 ERG and the photopic negative response (PhNR), in 6- to 12-year-old children. METHODS ffERG data were obtained from 214 eyes of 214 healthy subjects. The amplitudes and peak time of the ffERG responses were obtained from children divided into 6- to 8-year-old and 9- to 12-year-old groups. Using a skin electrode, electrical signals were measured in response to white stimulating light and white background light (LA 3 ERG). A blue background light and red flashes were then used to elicit the PhNR. RESULTS The a-wave amplitude ranged from 0.40 to 9.20 μV, the b-wave ranged from 4.70 to 30.80 μV, and the PhNR ranged from 1.30 to 39.90 μV. The b-wave peak time (33.20 ms) of 6- to 8-year-old groups was slightly shorter than that of the 9- to 12-year-old groups (33.60 ms, P = 0.01), but no differences in amplitudes or in peak time of other components. There were significant correlations between the amplitudes (a-wave and b-wave: r = 0.43, p < 0.001; a-wave and PhNR: r = 0.25, p < 0.001; b-wave and PhNR: r = 0.45, p < 0.001). There was a moderate correlation between the a-wave and b-wave peak time (r = 0.31, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We determined the largest dataset of the LA 3 ERG and PhNR parameters in a population of healthy children, aged 6-12 years, which may provide a useful reference value when evaluating children with potential retinal defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Wang
- Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yalan Wang
- Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weichen Guan
- Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun-E Zhao
- Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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41
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Saito H, Masaoka A, Komatsu H. Local field potential responses associated with perceptual filling-in at blind spot in macaque primary visual cortex. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:1464-1479. [PMID: 37910664 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00281.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To understand the neural mechanisms of perceptual filling-in at the blind spot (BS), we analyzed neural activity in the region representing the visual field corresponding to the BS (BS region) in the primary visual cortex (V1) of the macaque monkey. We inserted a linear array electrode into the BS region or surrounding region and recorded the multiunit activities (MUAs) and local field potential (LFP). We examined the responses of MUAs and LFP to a large visual stimulus that entirely covered the BS (surface stimuli) while the monkey performed a visual fixation task in either the monocular condition without receiving direct retinal input or the binocular condition receiving retinal information. We observed clear MUA responses in the deep layers within the BS region under monocular conditions, confirming previous reports that V1 neurons in the BS region are activated when perceptual filling-in occurs. Current source density analysis using LFP showed that MUA responses were mainly observed in layer 5. Although LFP responses were generally stronger in the binocular condition than in the monocular condition, a notable exception was observed in the BS region. LFP responses in the low-beta band in the superficial layers were stronger in the monocular condition than in the binocular condition. These results suggest that low-beta activity in the superficial layer is related to the occurrence of perceptual filling-in in the BS. The origin of this activity is considered to be feedback signals from the extrastriate areas to the V1.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Two characteristic activities were induced in the blind spot (BS) region in response to the stimulus, causing perceptual filling-in: 1) beta-band LFP responses in the superficial layers and 2) neuronal responses in the deep layers, mainly in layer 5. These data suggest that the feedback signal from the extrastriate areas to the BS region in V1 is involved in perceptual filling-in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harumi Saito
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
- ASHBi, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihiro Masaoka
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidehiko Komatsu
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo, Japan
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Lee JY, Della Santina L, Dunn F. Invited Session II: Retinal remodeling and regeneration: Partial cone loss triggers differential modification of inhibition across retinal pathways. J Vis 2023; 23:7. [PMID: 38109641 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cone loss up to 40-60% can be undetected by visual acuity or sensitivity metrics. These findings suggest that conventional diagnostics can be insensitive to cone loss below a threshold and/or that visual circuits can be resilient to cone loss up to a threshold. To distinguish between these possibilities, our lab studied the effects of partial cone loss in the mature mouse retina. We induced controlled cone loss by selectively expressing the diphtheria toxin receptor under the cone opsin promoter (cone-DTR). We examined the effects of 50% cone loss on the three of the most sensitive cell types in mouse retina: alpha ON sustained (AON-S), OFF sustained (AOFF-S), and OFF transient (AOFF-T) ganglion cells. With multiple cell types, we can discern between effects common across pathways, i.e., changes to common circuit components, and effects unique to pathways, i.e., changes to circuit components after the pathways diverge to each cell type. In AON-S ganglion cells, partial cone loss triggers inhibition to increase spatiotemporal integration, recover contrast gain, and receive increased synaptic inputs. While OFF pathways also exhibit modified spatiotemporal processing with fewer cones, the extent of functional adjustments was unique between the AOFF-S and AOFF-T. Cone loss caused differential modifications to inhibition in each of these retinal pathways. These findings demonstrate that partial cone loss induced circuitry changes after the divergence of OFF retinal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Yeun Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco
| | | | - Felice Dunn
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco
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43
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Reh T. Invited Session II: Retinal remodeling and regeneration: Stimulation of functional neural regeneration in adult mouse retina. J Vis 2023; 23:8. [PMID: 38109640 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurons are not regenerated in the adult mammalian retina. However, in non-mammalian vertebrates, specialized glial cells (Muller glia, MG) spontaneously generate neural progenitors, which go on to replace neurons after injury. We have recently developed strategies to stimulate regeneration of functional neurons in the adult mouse retina by over-expressing developmental transcription factors, including Ascl1, Atoh1, Islet1 and Pou4f2. We have found that over-expressing Ascl1 in MG in vivo, followed by injury and TSA, induces regeneration of functional retinal neurons in adult mice. Adding additional TFs, such as Atoh1, substantially increases the efficiency of neurogenesis from the MG, while combining other TFs with Ascl1 can alter the types of neurons that are regenerated after injury. Together our data show that we can considerably recapitulate in mice much of the regeneration that occurs naturally in fish.
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Hahn J, Monavarfeshani A, Qiao M, Kao AH, Kölsch Y, Kumar A, Kunze VP, Rasys AM, Richardson R, Wekselblatt JB, Baier H, Lucas RJ, Li W, Meister M, Trachtenberg JT, Yan W, Peng YR, Sanes JR, Shekhar K. Evolution of neuronal cell classes and types in the vertebrate retina. Nature 2023; 624:415-424. [PMID: 38092908 PMCID: PMC10719112 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06638-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The basic plan of the retina is conserved across vertebrates, yet species differ profoundly in their visual needs1. Retinal cell types may have evolved to accommodate these varied needs, but this has not been systematically studied. Here we generated and integrated single-cell transcriptomic atlases of the retina from 17 species: humans, two non-human primates, four rodents, three ungulates, opossum, ferret, tree shrew, a bird, a reptile, a teleost fish and a lamprey. We found high molecular conservation of the six retinal cell classes (photoreceptors, horizontal cells, bipolar cells, amacrine cells, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and Müller glia), with transcriptomic variation across species related to evolutionary distance. Major subclasses were also conserved, whereas variation among cell types within classes or subclasses was more pronounced. However, an integrative analysis revealed that numerous cell types are shared across species, based on conserved gene expression programmes that are likely to trace back to an early ancestral vertebrate. The degree of variation among cell types increased from the outer retina (photoreceptors) to the inner retina (RGCs), suggesting that evolution acts preferentially to shape the retinal output. Finally, we identified rodent orthologues of midget RGCs, which comprise more than 80% of RGCs in the human retina, subserve high-acuity vision, and were previously believed to be restricted to primates2. By contrast, the mouse orthologues have large receptive fields and comprise around 2% of mouse RGCs. Projections of both primate and mouse orthologous types are overrepresented in the thalamus, which supplies the primary visual cortex. We suggest that midget RGCs are not primate innovations, but are descendants of evolutionarily ancient types that decreased in size and increased in number as primates evolved, thereby facilitating high visual acuity and increased cortical processing of visual information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Hahn
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Aboozar Monavarfeshani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mu Qiao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- LinkedIn, Mountain View, CA, USA
| | - Allison H Kao
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yvonne Kölsch
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Ayush Kumar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vincent P Kunze
- Retinal Neurophysiology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ashley M Rasys
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Rose Richardson
- Division of Neuroscience and Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Joseph B Wekselblatt
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Herwig Baier
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Robert J Lucas
- Division of Neuroscience and Centre for Biological Timing, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Wei Li
- Retinal Neurophysiology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Markus Meister
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Joshua T Trachtenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Wenjun Yan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yi-Rong Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joshua R Sanes
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Karthik Shekhar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute,Vision Science Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Center for Computational Biology, Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Feng Q, Zhang LQ, Braun A, Cottaris NP, Tuten WS, Brainard DH. Poster Session II: Computational analysis of the effect of cone temporal filtering on detection threshold with and without retinal motion. J Vis 2023; 23:52. [PMID: 38109596 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal stimulus motion can increase visual acuity, but recent experimental evidence indicates that for briefly presented stimuli this benefit does not always occur (Braun et al, VSS 2023). To understand this effect, we modeled how the temporally low-pass filtering that occurs within each cone is expected to impact visual performance. We simulated a grating (10 cpd Gabor) detection task in which the stimulus was present for two 15 msec frames. We used the ISETBio software to compute cone excitations and cone photocurrent responses to the stimulus, for different contrasts and retinal positions, and used linear SVM classifiers to estimate computational-observer detection thresholds. We examined three retinal-motion conditions: 1) stimulus stabilized on the retina; 2) stimulus shifted 0.5 cycle orthogonal to grating orientation across the two frames; 3) stimulus shifted 1 cycle. Across all three conditions, detection threshold estimated on the basis of cone excitations varied little. Threshold estimated on the basis of photocurrent, however, was highest for the 0.5 cycle shift, and about the same for the no shift and 1 cycle shift conditions. Qualitatively, this result recapitulates the findings of Braun et al. and suggests that those findings may be understood as a consequence of the initial visual encoding. We note, however, that we analyzed detection rather than acuity; planned work will attempt to bring the computations into more direct contact with the experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyuan Feng
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Rochester
| | - Ling-Qi Zhang
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Alisa Braun
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley
| | | | - William S Tuten
- Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley
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Leo SM, Neveu MM, Yu-Wai-Man P, Mahroo OA, Robson AG. The diagnostic accuracy of photopic negative responses evoked by broadband and chromatic stimuli in a clinically heterogeneous population. Doc Ophthalmol 2023; 147:165-177. [PMID: 37889400 PMCID: PMC10638186 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-023-09956-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the photopic negative response (PhNR) elicited by red-blue (RB) and white-white (WW) stimuli, for detection of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dysfunction in a heterogeneous clinical cohort. METHODS Adults referred for electrophysiological investigations were recruited consecutively for this single-centre, prospective, paired diagnostic accuracy study. PhNRs were recorded to red flashes (1.5 cd·s·m-2) on a blue background (10 cd·m-2) and to white flashes on a white background (the latter being the ISCEV standard LA 3 stimulus). PhNR results were compared with a reference test battery assessing RGC/optic nerve structure and function including optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and mean RGC volume measurements, fundus photography, pattern electroretinography and visual evoked potentials. Primary outcome measures were differences in sensitivity and specificity of the two PhNR methods. RESULTS Two hundred and forty-three participants were initially enrolled, with 200 (median age 54; range 18-95; female 65%) meeting inclusion criteria. Sensitivity was 53% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 39% to 68%) and 62% (95% CI 48% to 76%), for WW and RB PhNRs, respectively. Specificity was 80% (95% CI 74% to 86%) and 78% (95% CI 72% to 85%), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between sensitivities (p = 0.046) but not specificities (p = 0.08) of the two methods. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.73 for WW and 0.74 for RB PhNRs. CONCLUSION PhNRs to red flashes on a blue background may be more sensitive than white-on-white stimuli, but there is no significant difference between specificities. This study highlights the value and potential convenience of using white-on-white stimuli, already used widely for routine ERG assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun M Leo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Magella M Neveu
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair and MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Omar A Mahroo
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, UK
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, UK
- Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony G Robson
- Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London, EC1V 2PD, UK.
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
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Kim YJ. Invited Session III: Diversity in chromatic processing across the animal kingdom: Comparative connectomics reveals noncanonical wiring for color vision in human foveal retina. J Vis 2023; 23:13. [PMID: 38109635 DOI: 10.1167/jov.23.15.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Old World macaque monkey and New World common marmoset provide fundamental models for human visual processing, yet the human ancestral lineage diverged from these monkey lineages over 25 Mya. We therefore asked whether fine-scale synaptic wiring in the nervous system is preserved across these three primate families, despite long periods of independent evolution. We applied connectomic electron microscopy to the specialized foveal retina where circuits for highest acuity and color vision reside. Synaptic motifs arising from the cone photoreceptor type sensitive to short (S) wavelengths and associated with "blue-yellow" (S-ON and S-OFF) color-coding circuitry were reconstructed. We found that distinctive circuitry arises from S cones for each of the three species. The S cones contacted neighboring L and M (long- and middle-wavelength sensitive) cones in humans, but such contacts were rare or absent in macaques and marmosets. We discovered a major S-OFF pathway in the human retina and established its absence in marmosets. Further, the S-ON and S-OFF chromatic pathways make excitatory-type synaptic contacts with L and M cone types in humans, but not in macaques or marmosets. Our results predict that early-stage chromatic signals are distinct in the human retina and imply that solving the human connectome at the nanoscale level of synaptic wiring will be critical for fully understanding the neural basis of human color vision.
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Fogg LG, Chung WS, Justin Marshall N, Cortesi F, de Busserolles F. Multiple rod layers increase the speed and sensitivity of vision in nocturnal reef fishes. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231749. [PMID: 37989239 PMCID: PMC10688437 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Most vertebrates have one layer of the dim-light active rod photoreceptors. However, multiple rod layers, known as a multibank retina, can be found in over 100 species of fish, including several deep-sea species and one family of nocturnally active reef fish, the Holocentridae. Although seemingly associated with increased photon catch, the function of multibank retinas remained unknown. We used an integrative approach, combining histology, electrophysiology and amino acid sequence analysis, applied to three species of nocturnal reef fishes, two holocentrids with a multibank retina (Neoniphon sammara and Myripristis violacea) and an apogonid with a single rod bank (Ostorhinchus compressus), to determine the sensory advantage of multiple rod layers. Our results showed that fish with multibank retinas have both faster vision and enhanced responses to bright- and dim-light intensities. Faster vision was indicated by higher flicker fusion frequencies during temporal resolution electroretinography as well as faster retinal release rates estimated from their rhodopsin proteins. Enhanced sensitivity was demonstrated by broadened intensity-response curves derived from luminous sensitivity electroretinography. Overall, our findings provide the first functional evidence for enhanced dim-light sensitivity using a multibank retina while also suggesting novel roles for the adaptation in enhancing bright-light sensitivity and the speed of vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily G. Fogg
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Zoological Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wen-Sung Chung
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fanny de Busserolles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Kim MH, Strazza P, Puthussery T, Gross OP, Taylor WR, von Gersdorff H. Functional maturation of the rod bipolar to AII-amacrine cell ribbon synapse in the mouse retina. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113440. [PMID: 37976158 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ribbon synapses undergo functional changes after eye opening that remain uncharacterized. Using light-flash stimulation and paired patch-clamp recordings, we examined the maturation of the ribbon synapse between rod bipolar cells (RBCs) and AII-amacrine cells (AII-ACs) after eye opening (postnatal day 14) in the mouse retina at near physiological temperatures. We find that light-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in AII-ACs exhibit a slow sustained component that increases in magnitude with advancing age, whereas a fast transient component remains unchanged. Similarly, paired recordings reveal a dual-component EPSC with a slower sustained component that increases during development, even though the miniature EPSC (mEPSC) amplitude and kinetics do not change significantly. We thus propose that the readily releasable pool of vesicles from RBCs increases after eye opening, and we estimate that a short light flash can evoke the release of ∼4,000 vesicles onto a single mature AII-AC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mean-Hwan Kim
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Paulo Strazza
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Teresa Puthussery
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Owen P Gross
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department of Physics, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USA
| | - W Rowland Taylor
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Henrique von Gersdorff
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Nath A, Grimes WN, Diamond JS. Layers of inhibitory networks shape receptive field properties of AII amacrine cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113390. [PMID: 37930888 PMCID: PMC10769003 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the retina, rod and cone pathways mediate visual signals over a billion-fold range in luminance. AII ("A-two") amacrine cells (ACs) receive signals from both pathways via different bipolar cells, enabling AIIs to operate at night and during the day. Previous work has examined luminance-dependent changes in AII gap junction connectivity, but less is known about how surrounding circuitry shapes AII receptive fields across light levels. Here, we report that moderate contrast stimuli elicit surround inhibition in AIIs under all but the dimmest visual conditions, due to actions of horizontal cells and at least two ACs that inhibit presynaptic bipolar cells. Under photopic (daylight) conditions, surround inhibition transforms AII response kinetics, which are inherited by downstream ganglion cells. Ablating neuronal nitric oxide synthase type-1 (nNOS-1) ACs removes AII surround inhibition under mesopic (dusk/dawn), but not photopic, conditions. Our findings demonstrate how multiple layers of neural circuitry interact to encode signals across a wide physiological range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amurta Nath
- Synaptic Physiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - William N Grimes
- Synaptic Physiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Diamond
- Synaptic Physiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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