Light acts through melanopsin to alter retinal waves and segregation of retinogeniculate afferents

Nat Neurosci. 2011 Jun 5;14(7):827-9. doi: 10.1038/nn.2845.

Abstract

Waves of correlated activity sweeping across the early postnatal mouse retina promote the segregation and refinement of retinofugal projections. This process has been thought to be spontaneous and unaffected by visual experience. We found, however, that light prolongs spiking during the waves and enhances the segregation of retinogeniculate afferents, and that it did so by activating melanopsin-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Afferent Pathways / physiology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cholera Toxin / metabolism
  • Electrodes
  • Functional Laterality
  • Geniculate Bodies / physiology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Light*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / physiology*
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology
  • Rod Opsins / genetics
  • Rod Opsins / physiology*

Substances

  • Rod Opsins
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • melanopsin
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Cholera Toxin