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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
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Isolation of Primary Murine Retinal Ganglion Cells RGCs by Flow Cytometry
Published on: July 5, 2017
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Changes in ganglion cells during retinal degeneration
Susmita Saha1, Ursula Greferath2, Kirstan A Vessey2
1Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Australia; NeuroEngineering Laboratory, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Neural Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
Neuroscience
|May 2, 2016
Summary
Inherited retinal degeneration causes photoreceptor loss, leading to reduced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density and altered synaptic inputs. This study reveals specific synapse loss in RGCs, contributing to functional changes during retinal degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Inherited retinal degenerations, like retinitis pigmentosa (RP), involve photoreceptor loss and secondary changes in the inner retina.
- The impact of photoreceptor degeneration on synaptic input density and distribution to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify changes in RGC density and synaptic inputs to RGCs in a mouse model of inherited retinal degeneration.
- To investigate whether alterations in synaptic inputs correlate with changes in specific retinal cell populations.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of RGC density using RBPMS immunocytochemistry in rd1 mice (photoreceptor degeneration model) and wildtype (WT) controls.
- Analysis of ribbon (CtBP2/RIBEYE) and conventional (gephyrin) synapses on ON and OFF RGCs using double labeling in rd1-Thy1 and WT-Thy1 reporter mice.
- Assessment of rod bipolar and ON cone bipolar cell numbers.
Main Results:
- A reduction in RGC density was observed in the peripheral retina of rd1 mice after photoreceptor loss.
- ON RGCs exhibited decreased density of RIBEYE-immunoreactive (ribbon) synapses, while OFF RGCs showed reduced gephyrin-immunoreactive (conventional) synapses.
- Synaptic marker distribution remained unchanged, but the loss of synaptic inputs correlated with a decrease in rod bipolar and ON cone bipolar cells.
Conclusions:
- Photoreceptor loss in inherited retinal degeneration leads to a reduction in synaptic inputs to RGCs.
- The observed changes in synaptic input density to RGCs likely contribute to the functional deficits reported during retinal degeneration.
- Inner retinal cell alterations, including bipolar cell loss, accompany the synaptic changes in RGCs.
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