PURPOSE: To determine whether a severely degenerated retina without photoreceptor outer segments and a non-recordable electroretinogram (ERG) can still show retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to retinal light stimulation. METHODS: The authors measured ERGs and retinal surface RGC responses from six week old rd mice and three month old homozygous S334ter line3 rats. Animal eyes were also studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry (rats). RESULTS: The corneal ERGs were non-recordable and no photoreceptor outer segments were found in either retinal degeneration model. A few cell bodies (without outer segments) that were immunoreactive for cone opsin and rhodopsin were found in the outer nuclear layer of the rats. Light-driven ON-RGC responses, however, were recordable from six week old rd mice. In addition, light-driven ON and OFF-RGC responses were recordable from three month old homozygous S334ter line 3 rats. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that despite the apparent absence of photoreceptor outer segments and a non-recordable ERG, ganglion cell responses to retinal light stimulation may remain preserved in some severe retinal degenerate transgenic rodents.
PURPOSE: To determine whether a severely degenerated retina without photoreceptor outer segments and a non-recordable electroretinogram (ERG) can still show retinal ganglion cell (RGC) responses to retinal light stimulation. METHODS: The authors measured ERGs and retinal surface RGC responses from six week old rd mice and three month old homozygous S334ter line3 rats. Animal eyes were also studied by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry (rats). RESULTS: The corneal ERGs were non-recordable and no photoreceptor outer segments were found in either retinal degeneration model. A few cell bodies (without outer segments) that were immunoreactive for cone opsin and rhodopsin were found in the outer nuclear layer of the rats. Light-driven ON-RGC responses, however, were recordable from six week old rd mice. In addition, light-driven ON and OFF-RGC responses were recordable from three month old homozygous S334ter line 3 rats. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that despite the apparent absence of photoreceptor outer segments and a non-recordable ERG, ganglion cell responses to retinal light stimulation may remain preserved in some severe retinal degenerate transgenic rodents.
Authors: Matthew M LaVail; Shimpei Nishikawa; Roy H Steinberg; Muna I Naash; Jacque L Duncan; Nikolaus Trautmann; Michael T Matthes; Douglas Yasumura; Cathy Lau-Villacorta; Jeannie Chen; Ward M Peterson; Haidong Yang; John G Flannery Journal: Exp Eye Res Date: 2017-11-06 Impact factor: 3.467
Authors: G Martinez-Navarrete; M J Seiler; R B Aramant; L Fernandez-Sanchez; I Pinilla; N Cuenca Journal: Exp Eye Res Date: 2010-12-11 Impact factor: 3.467
Authors: Magdalene J Seiler; Robert E Lin; Bryce T McLelland; Anuradha Mathur; Bin Lin; Jaclyn Sigman; Alexander T De Guzman; Leonard M Kitzes; Robert B Aramant; Biju B Thomas Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2017-01-01 Impact factor: 4.799