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Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Immunohistochemical and Calcium Imaging Methods in Wholemount Rat Retina
Published on: October 13, 2014
Diacylglycerol Signaling in Retinal Ganglion Cells
Ishan Chaplot1, Isabella Moceri2, Maria D Cabrera Gonzalez3,4
1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami Integrative Metabolomics Research Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
Abstract:
With impaired retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function and eventual RGC death, there is a heightened risk of experiencing glaucoma-induced blindness or other optic neuropathies. Poor RGC efficiency leads to limited transmission of visual signals between the retina and the brain by RGC axons. Increased focus on studying lipid messengers found in neurons such as endocannabinoids (eCBs) has importance due to their potential axonal pathway regenerative properties. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), a common eCB, is synthesized from an sn-1 hydrolysis reaction between diacylglycerol (DAG) and diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL). Examination of DAG production allows for future downstream analysis in relation to DAGL functionality. Here, we describe protocol guidelines for extracting RGCs from mouse retinas and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis of the DAG content present within the RGCs.
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