TY - JOUR
T1 - Integrative properties of retinal ganglion cell electrical responsiveness depend on neurotrophic support and genotype in the mouse
AU - Chou, Tsung Han
AU - Feuer, William J
AU - Schwartz, Odelia
AU - Rojas, Mario J.
AU - Roebber, Jennifer K.
AU - Porciatti, Vittorio
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - Early stages of glaucoma and optic neuropathies are thought to show inner retina remodeling and functional changes of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) before they die. To assess RGC functional plasticity, we investigated the contrast-gain control properties of the pattern electroretinogram (PERG), a sensitive measure of RGC function, as an index of spatio-temporal integration occurring in the inner retina circuitry subserving PERG generators. We studied the integrative properties of the PERG in mice exposed to different conditions of neurotrophic support. We also investigated the effect of genotypic differences among mouse strains with different susceptibility to glaucoma (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, DBA/2.Gpnmb+). Results show that the integrative properties of the PERG recorded in the standard C57BL/6J inbred mouse strain are impaired after deficit of neurotrophic support and partially restored after exogenous neurotrophic administration. Changes in PERG amplitude, latency, and contrast-dependent responses differ between mouse strains with different susceptibility to glaucoma. Results represent a proof of concept that the PERG could be used as a tool for in-vivo monitoring of RGC functional plasticity before RGC death, the effect of neuroactive treatments, as well as for high-throughput tool for phenotypic screening of different mouse genotypes.
AB - Early stages of glaucoma and optic neuropathies are thought to show inner retina remodeling and functional changes of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) before they die. To assess RGC functional plasticity, we investigated the contrast-gain control properties of the pattern electroretinogram (PERG), a sensitive measure of RGC function, as an index of spatio-temporal integration occurring in the inner retina circuitry subserving PERG generators. We studied the integrative properties of the PERG in mice exposed to different conditions of neurotrophic support. We also investigated the effect of genotypic differences among mouse strains with different susceptibility to glaucoma (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, DBA/2.Gpnmb+). Results show that the integrative properties of the PERG recorded in the standard C57BL/6J inbred mouse strain are impaired after deficit of neurotrophic support and partially restored after exogenous neurotrophic administration. Changes in PERG amplitude, latency, and contrast-dependent responses differ between mouse strains with different susceptibility to glaucoma. Results represent a proof of concept that the PERG could be used as a tool for in-vivo monitoring of RGC functional plasticity before RGC death, the effect of neuroactive treatments, as well as for high-throughput tool for phenotypic screening of different mouse genotypes.
KW - Contrast gain control
KW - Glaucoma susceptibility
KW - Mouse
KW - Pattern electroretinogram
KW - Retinal ganglion cell function
KW - Retinal plasticity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.exer.2015.11.008
DO - 10.1016/j.exer.2015.11.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 26614910
AN - SCOPUS:84948800311
VL - 145
SP - 68
EP - 74
JO - Experimental Eye Research
JF - Experimental Eye Research
SN - 0014-4835
ER -