Life Sciences Commons^™

Melanopsin-Containing Iprgcs Are Resistant To Excitotoxic Injury And Maintain Functional Non-Image Forming Behaviors After Insult In A Diurnal Rodent Model, Garrett M. Fogo, Dorela D. Shuboni-Mulligan, Andrew J. Gall

Faculty Publications

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are critical for the light signaling properties of non-image forming vision. Melanopsin-expressing ipRGCs project to retinorecipient brain regions involved in modulating circadian rhythms. Melanopsin has been shown to play an important role in how animals respond to light, including photoentrainment, masking (i.e., acute behavioral responses to light), and the pupillary light reflex (PLR). Importantly, ipRGCs are resistant to various forms of damage, including ocular hypertension, optic nerve crush, and excitotoxicity via N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) administration. Although these cells are resistant to various forms of injury, the question still remains whether or …