Gan JH, Wang MJ, Li CY, Huang Y, Liu ZH, Bai WL, Xu WJ, Sun MH, Kang MT, Morgan I, Wang N, Li SM (2025) The interplay between form deprivation and dopamine signaling in regulating the expression of circadian rhythm-related genes in the retina of mice. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol doi: 10.1007/s00417-025-06950-2 PMID: 41026222

Objective: To investigate short-term and long-term effect of form deprivation, interacted with dopamine, on the expression of circadian rhythm-related genes in the retina of mice.

Summary: Form deprivation disturbed endogenous circadian rhythm signaling pathways in the retina both in the early stage and long term. Exogenous dopamine altered the expression of Opn4 and circadian rhythm-related genes, indicating a complex role of circadian rhythm in myopia development.

Usage: Mice received intraperitoneal injections of either dopamine or PBS.

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

Zhu M, Wu Y, Gao H, Qi F, Zhang X, Ran Y (2025) Differential regulation of mTOR activity in retinal ganglion cells underlies their distinct susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion. Commun Biol 8(1):911. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08314-2 PMID: 40500296

Objective: To explore why intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are more resistant to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury than other RGC subtypes and to examine the role of mTOR signaling in this differential vulnerability.

Summary: ipRGCs exhibited higher mTOR activity and greater resistance to I/R injury compared to other RGCs. Rapamycin had cell-type–specific effects: it protected non-ipRGCs by increasing mTOR activity but suppressed mTOR in ipRGCs unless light was removed, revealing that light conditions critically influence mTOR-mediated neuroprotection.

Usage: Melanopsin (OPN4) was detected using Anti-Melanopsin (AB-N39) at a 1:2000 dilution to identify and quantify ipRGCs in retinal whole-mounts following ischemic injury.

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

Kiyama T, Chen CK, Altay HY, Chen YJ, Sigala L, Su D, Eliason S, Amendt BA, Mao CA (2025) Tbr2-dependent parallel pathways regulate the development of distinct ipRGC subtypes. bioRxiv 2025.04.29.651262. doi: 10.1101/2025.04.29.651262 PMID: 40654872

Objective: To demonstrate that two Tbr2-dependent transcription factors, Iroquois‑related homeobox 1 (Irx1) and T-box containing factor 20 (Tbx20), are key downstream transcription factors guiding lineage segregations of Tbr2-expressing RGC into distinct adult intrinsically photo sensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC) subtypes.

Summary: Both transcription factors, Irx1 and Tbx20, also control Opn4 expression. When Irx1 is ablated during retinal development, Opn4 expression is significantly reduced in the M3, M4, and M5 ipRGC groups; however, the formation of Irx1-expressing ipRGCs is not affected. In contrast, when Tbx20 is deleted, a significant number of Tbx20-expressing cells fail to develop while Opn4 expression is down-regulated. These findings reveal two parallel transcription cascades downstream of Tbr2 for controlling ipRGC subtype formation, fate divergence, and maintenance in the adult retina.

Usage: Retinal sections or flat-mounted retinas were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and then incubated with the Anti-Melanopsin (AB-N39).

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

Bohl JM, Hassan AR, Sharpe ZJ, Kola M, Shehu A, Beaudoin DL, Ichinose T (2025) Pivotal roles of melanopsin containing retinal ganglion cells in pupillary light reflex in photopic conditions. 19:1547066. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2025.1547066 PMID: 39990971

Objective: To examine the roles of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) in the pupillary light reflex (PLR) by ablating photoreceptors using N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU).

Summary: Results suggest that ipRGCs primarily contribute to the PLR at a high light intensity, which does not agree with the previous results shown by mutant mouse models. The results indicate that the melanopsin response in ipRGCs generate fast and robust PLR when induced by high light.

Usage: Retinal whole mount preparations were fixed using 4% paraformaldehyde and blocked with 10% normal donkey serum and 0.5% Triton-X in PBS (PBS-T). Melanopsin antibody (AB-N39) was used at 1:5000 in PBS-T and was incubated for 3 days at 4°C, followed by Alexa568 donkey-anti-rabbit for 2 h.

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

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 PMID: 38903914

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 2024.05.14.594181. 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)

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 2024.04.16.589750. doi: 10.1101/2024.04.16.589750 PMID: 38659888

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)

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)

Matcham AC, Toma K, Tsai NY, Sze CJ, Lin PY, Stewart IF, Duan X (2024) Cadherin-13 Maintains Retinotectal Synapses via Transneuronal Interactions. J Neurosci 44(5):e1310232023. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1310-23.2023 PMID: 38123991

Objective: To explore the role of Type II cadherins, particularly Cdh13, in the formation of specific retinotectal synapses.

Summary: Cdh13 is highly expressed in wide-field neurons of the superficial superior colliculus (sSC), and its removal from presynaptic retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) leads to a significant reduction in dendritic spines on postsynaptic wide-field neurons. Unlike αRGCs and On–Off Direction-Selective Ganglion Cells (ooDSGCs), Cdh13-expressing RGCs utilize distinct mechanisms to establish precise retinotectal connections.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (1:500).

Related Products: Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal (Cat. #AB-N38), Melanopsin Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N39)