GABAergic retinal ganglion cells regulate innate defensive responses
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Examination of Anatomical Features of Retinal Ganglion Cells Under N-methyl-D-aspartic Acid (NMDA)-induced Excitotoxicity
Published on: September 19, 2025
Danrui Cai1, Xue Luo1,2, Kejiong Shen1
1Eye Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei.
Abstract:
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is regarded as the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, including the retina. However, the roles of GABA-immunolabeled retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have not been explored. Here, we report the expression of GABAergic RGCs that project to many brain areas in mice, including the superior colliculus. Selective ablation of the superior colliculus-projecting GABAergic RGCs, leaving other GABAergic RGCs intact, reduces the looming stimulus-induced defensive response without affecting image-forming functions; it also significantly enhances glucose metabolism in the superior colliculus, as determined by [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET (FDG PET). Our findings demonstrate that superior colliculus-projecting GABAergic RGCs control the visually active defensive response by regulating superior colliculus neurons.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Eyeball
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory...
The Retina
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

