Zhang Q, Xue J, Tang J, Wu S, Liu Z, Wu C, Liu C, Liu Y, Lin J, Han J, Liu L, Chen Y, Yang J, Li Z, Zhao L, Wei Y, Li Y, Zhuo Y (2024) Modulating amacrine cell-derived dopamine signaling promotes optic nerve regeneration and preserves visual function. Sci Adv 10(31):eado0866. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ado0866 PMID: 39093964

Objective: To identify a unique subtype of amacrine cells (ACs), dopaminergic ACs (DACs), that respond early to optic nerve crush by downregulating neuronal activity and reducing retinal dopamine (DA) release.

Summary: Activation of DACs or augmentation of DA release using levodopa demonstrated neuroprotective effects and modestly enhanced axon regeneration. The dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) was also identified as a critical mediator of DAC-derived DA, and retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-specific DRD1 overexpression effectively overcame subtype-specific barriers to regeneration.

Usage: Immunostaining of retinal cryosections and whole mounts (1:1000) (AB-N39).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Yang Q, Liu L, He F, Zhao W, Chen Z, Wu X, Rao B, Lin X, Mao F, Qu J, Zhang J (2024) Retinal ganglion cell type-specific expression of synuclein family members revealed by scRNA-sequencing. Int J Med Sci 21(8):1472-1490. doi: 10.7150/ijms.95598

Objective: To analyze the single-cell transcriptome in healthy and injured retinas to investigate their expression patterns and roles.

Summary: The study revealed that Snca expression varies across RGC subtypes, while Sncb and Sncg are uniformly expressed. Following traumatic axonal injury, Snca, Sncb, and Sncg levels decreased. The proportions of α-Syn-positive RGCs and ipRGCs remained unchanged, with notable changes in Ptn-Ncl and NCAM signaling pathways preceding cell death.

Usage: Immunofluorescence staining (AB-N39) (1:3000).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Bohl JM, Hassan AR, Sharpe ZJ, Kola M, Ayub M, Pandey Y, Shehu A, Ichinose T (2024) Melanopsin ganglion cells in the mouse retina independently evoke pupillary light reflex. bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2024.05.14.594181

Objective: To examine the role of rod and cone photoreceptors in pupillary light reflex (PLR) by acutely ablating photoreceptors.

Summary: Results demonstrate that ipRGCs are the major contributor to the PLR induced by high light.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (AB-N39) (1:5000).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Contreras E, Liang C, Mahoney HL, Javier JL, Luce ML, Labastida Medina K, Bozza T, Schmidt TM (2024) Flp-recombinase mouse line for genetic manipulation of ipRGCs. bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2024.05.06.592761 PMID: 38766000

Objective: To report the generation and characterization of a new mouse line (Opn4FlpO), in which FlpO is expressed from the Opn4 locus, to manipulate the melanopsin-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.

Summary: The Opn4FlpO mouse line drives Flp-recombinase expression specifically within ipRGCs, with robust recombination in M1-M3 ipRGC subtypes. This model is a valuable tool for investigating these retinal cells’ physiological and behavioral roles.

Usage: Retinal histology (1:2000 dilution) (AB-N38).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38)

Fitzpatrick MJ, Krizan J, Hsiang JC, Shen N, Kerschensteiner D (2024) A pupillary contrast response in mice and humans: Neural mechanisms and visual functions. Neuron doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.04.012 PMID: 38697114

Objective: To show that temporal contrast drives pupil constriction through a cell-type-specific retinal circuit in mice and humans.

Summary: The pupillary contrast response enhances high spatial frequency contrast in retinal images and improves visual acuity.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (1:2000) (Cat: AB-N38).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38)

Dyer B, Yu SO, Lane Brown R, Lang RA, D’Souza SP (2024) A new Opn4cre recombinase mouse line to target intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2024.04.16.589750

Objective: To generate a new Opn4cre knock-in allele [Opn4cre(DSO)], in which cre is placed immediately downstream of the Opn4 start codon.

Summary: The Opn4cre(DSO) mouse line improves the specificity of ipRGC labeling, enabling the targeted study of these cells in relation to light-regulated behaviors and physiology.

Usage: Histology and immunofluorescence.

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Nord C, Jones I, Garcia-Maestre M, Hägglund AC, Carlsson L (2024) Reduced mTORC1-signaling in progenitor cells leads to retinal lamination deficits. Dev Dyn doi: 10.1002/dvdy.707 PMID: 38546215

Objective: To demonstrate that mTORC1 mediates critical roles during neuronal lamination using the mouse retina as a model system.

Summary: This study establishes a critical role for mTORC1-signaling during retinal lamination and demonstrates that this pathway regulates diverse developmental mechanisms involved in driving the stratified arrangement of neurons during CNS development.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (AB-N38) (1:1000).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38)

Qian C, Xin Y, Qi C, Wang H, Dong BC, Zack DJ, Blackshaw S, Hattar S, Zhou FQ, Qian J (2024) Intercellular communication atlas reveals Oprm1 as a neuroprotective factor for retinal ganglion cells. Nat Commun 15(1):2206. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46428-z PMID: 38467611

Objective: To explore how intercellular communication contributes to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival following optic nerve crush based on single-cell RNA-seq analysis.

Summary: The overall scores of the responsive interactions among the retinal cell types correlated with the distress interactions sent from RGCs.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (1:500; AB-N38).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38)

Rodríguez-Ramírez KT, Norte-Muñoz M, Lucas-Ruiz F, Gallego-Ortega A, Calzaferri F, García-Bernal D, Martínez CM, Galindo-Romero C, de Los Ríos C, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M (2024) Retinal response to systemic inflammation differs between sexes and neurons. Front Immunol 15:1340013. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340013 PMID: 38384465

Objective: To examine how systemic inflammation, induced by intraperitoneal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), affects the retina of male and female mice. The study also evaluates whether blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome and the extrinsic apoptosis pathway provides retinal protection.

Summary: Systemic LPS exposure leads to neuronal and sex-specific adverse effects in the mouse retina. These effects are mitigated by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and the extrinsic apoptosis pathway, highlighting their protective roles.

Usage: Immunodetection (1:750; AB-N39)

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)

Maloney R, Quattrochi L, Yoon J, Souza R, Berson D (2024) Efficacy and specificity of melanopsin reporters for retinal ganglion cells. J Comp Neurol 532(2):e25591. doi: 10.1002/cne.25591 PMID: 38375612

Objective: To evaluate the precision and comprehensiveness of various labeling methods for intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs).

Summary: The authors provide a comparative analysis of the strengths and limitations of each approach and highlight the need for tailored methods based on specific research applications.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (1:10,000) (AB-N38).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38)