| First Author | So C | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Exp Eye Res | Volume | 241 |
| Pages | 109834 | PubMed ID | 38382575 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:358314 | Mgi Id | MGI:7613711 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109834 | Citation | So C, et al. (2024) The response of retinal ganglion cells to optical defocused visual stimuli in mouse retinas. Exp Eye Res 241:109834 |
| abstractText | Myopia and astigmatism are two primary types of refractive errors characterized by inaccurate focusing images on the retina. This study aimed to investigate the response characteristics of Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs), represented by alpha (alpha) RGCs, when exposed to focused, simulated spherically defocused images and astigmatically defocused images projected onto mouse retinas. Negative pressure was applied to stretch the soma of RGC in vitro to simulate myopia using a 7-8 mum diameter glass microelectrode, resulting in a 5% increase in the cell's diameter. A custom-made device was utilized to project spherically (equal to +/-10 and +/- 20 D) and astigmatically (+6.00 D) defocused images onto the retinas. As a control for a deficient intact retinal circuit, alphaRGCs of connexin 36 knockout (Cx36 KO) mice were used. The response of alphaRGCs varied significantly in terms of spikes, excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and capacitances under stretching conditions to mimic myopia. Significant differences in the amplitudes of EPSCs were observed in the majority of alphaRGCs when exposed to focused and spherically defocused images in normal and mechanically simulated myopic retinas. However, this difference was not observed in alphaRGCs of Cx36 KO mice. alphaRGCs demonstrated significant differences in response between focused and astigmatically defocused images. Once again, alphaRGCs of Cx36 KO mice did not display differences. alphaRGCs have the ability to detect focused, spherically, and astigmatically defocused images and exhibit differential responses ex vivo. Gap junction subunit Cx36 may play a crucial role in transmitting visual signals associated with developing and perceiving refractive errors. |
