Abstract
A rare type of ganglion cell in mammalian retina is directly photosensitive. These novel retinal photoreceptors express the photopigment melanopsin. They send axons directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), and olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN), thereby contributing to photic synchronization of circadian rhythms and the pupillary light reflex. Here, we sought to characterize more fully the projections of these cells to the brain. By targeting tau-lacZ to the melanopsin gene locus in mice, ganglion cells that would normally express melanopsin were induced to express, instead, the marker enzyme β-galactosidase. Their axons were visualized by X-gal histochemistry or anti-β-galactosidase immunofluorescence. Established targets were confirmed, including the SCN, IGL, OPN, ventral division of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv), and preoptic area, but the overall projections were more widespread than previously recognized. Targets included the lateral nucleus, peri-supraoptic nucleus, and subparaventricular zone of the hypothalamus, medial amygdala, margin of the lateral habenula, posterior limitans nucleus, superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray. There were also weak projections to the margins of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Co-staining with the cholera toxin B subunit to label all retinal afferents showed that melanopsin ganglion cells provide most of the retinal input to the SCN, IGL, and lateral habenula and much of that to the OPN, but that other ganglion cells do contribute at least some retinal input to these targets. Staining patterns after monocular enucleation revealed that the projections of these cells are overwhelmingly crossed except for the projection to the SCN, which is bilaterally symmetrical.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 326-349 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Journal of Comparative Neurology |
| Volume | 497 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 20 2006 |
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Keywords
- Circadian
- Melanopsin
- Pretectum
- Pupil
- Retinal ganglion cell
- Retinofugal
- Retinohypothalamic tract
- Superior colliculus
- Suprachiasmatic nucleus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Central projections of melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells in the mouse. / Hattar, Samer; Kumar, Monica; Park, Alexander; Tong, Patrick; Tung, Jonathan; Yau, King-Wai; Berson, David M.
In: Journal of Comparative Neurology, Vol. 497, No. 3, 20.07.2006, p. 326-349.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Central projections of melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells in the mouse
AU - Hattar, Samer
AU - Kumar, Monica
AU - Park, Alexander
AU - Tong, Patrick
AU - Tung, Jonathan
AU - Yau, King-Wai
AU - Berson, David M.
PY - 2006/7/20
Y1 - 2006/7/20
N2 - A rare type of ganglion cell in mammalian retina is directly photosensitive. These novel retinal photoreceptors express the photopigment melanopsin. They send axons directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), and olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN), thereby contributing to photic synchronization of circadian rhythms and the pupillary light reflex. Here, we sought to characterize more fully the projections of these cells to the brain. By targeting tau-lacZ to the melanopsin gene locus in mice, ganglion cells that would normally express melanopsin were induced to express, instead, the marker enzyme β-galactosidase. Their axons were visualized by X-gal histochemistry or anti-β-galactosidase immunofluorescence. Established targets were confirmed, including the SCN, IGL, OPN, ventral division of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv), and preoptic area, but the overall projections were more widespread than previously recognized. Targets included the lateral nucleus, peri-supraoptic nucleus, and subparaventricular zone of the hypothalamus, medial amygdala, margin of the lateral habenula, posterior limitans nucleus, superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray. There were also weak projections to the margins of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Co-staining with the cholera toxin B subunit to label all retinal afferents showed that melanopsin ganglion cells provide most of the retinal input to the SCN, IGL, and lateral habenula and much of that to the OPN, but that other ganglion cells do contribute at least some retinal input to these targets. Staining patterns after monocular enucleation revealed that the projections of these cells are overwhelmingly crossed except for the projection to the SCN, which is bilaterally symmetrical.
AB - A rare type of ganglion cell in mammalian retina is directly photosensitive. These novel retinal photoreceptors express the photopigment melanopsin. They send axons directly to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), intergeniculate leaflet (IGL), and olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN), thereby contributing to photic synchronization of circadian rhythms and the pupillary light reflex. Here, we sought to characterize more fully the projections of these cells to the brain. By targeting tau-lacZ to the melanopsin gene locus in mice, ganglion cells that would normally express melanopsin were induced to express, instead, the marker enzyme β-galactosidase. Their axons were visualized by X-gal histochemistry or anti-β-galactosidase immunofluorescence. Established targets were confirmed, including the SCN, IGL, OPN, ventral division of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv), and preoptic area, but the overall projections were more widespread than previously recognized. Targets included the lateral nucleus, peri-supraoptic nucleus, and subparaventricular zone of the hypothalamus, medial amygdala, margin of the lateral habenula, posterior limitans nucleus, superior colliculus, and periaqueductal gray. There were also weak projections to the margins of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Co-staining with the cholera toxin B subunit to label all retinal afferents showed that melanopsin ganglion cells provide most of the retinal input to the SCN, IGL, and lateral habenula and much of that to the OPN, but that other ganglion cells do contribute at least some retinal input to these targets. Staining patterns after monocular enucleation revealed that the projections of these cells are overwhelmingly crossed except for the projection to the SCN, which is bilaterally symmetrical.
KW - Circadian
KW - Melanopsin
KW - Pretectum
KW - Pupil
KW - Retinal ganglion cell
KW - Retinofugal
KW - Retinohypothalamic tract
KW - Superior colliculus
KW - Suprachiasmatic nucleus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=31144447212&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=31144447212&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/cne.20970
DO - 10.1002/cne.20970
M3 - Article
VL - 497
SP - 326
EP - 349
JO - Journal of Comparative Neurology
JF - Journal of Comparative Neurology
SN - 0021-9967
IS - 3
ER -