Berg D, Kartheiser K, Leyrer M, Saali A, Berson D (2018) Molecular diversity of intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cells. bioRxiv 381004. doi: 10.1101/381004

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

Jo A, Xu J, Deniz S, Cherian S, DeVries SH, Zhu Y (2018) Intersectional strategies for targeting amacrine and ganglion cell types in the mouse retina. Front Neural Circuits 12:66. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00066 PMID: 30186122

Objective: To obtain unambiguous information about retinal processing.

Summary: Results establish a foundation for future application of intersectional strategies in the retina and retino-recipient regions.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry 1:1000.

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

Ueki Y, Shchepetkina V, Lefcort F (2018) Retina-specific loss of Ikbkap/Elp1 causes mitochondrial dysfunction that leads to selective retinal ganglion cell degeneration in a mouse model of familial dysautonomia. Dis Model Mech 11(7):dmm033746. doi: 10.1242/dmm.033746 PMID: 29929962

Objective: To determine the pathophysiological mechanisms that are triggered by the absence of IKAP (inhibitor of kappa B kinase complex-associated protein) in the retina.

Summary: The loss of IKAP caused progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by 1 month of age. There was no loss of melanopsin+ intrinsically photosensitive RGCs at 18 months. RGCs were the only cell type that degenerated, with the survival of other retinal neurons unaffected.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry (IHC), RGC Counts, and H&E staining – Anti-melanopsin (1:5000).

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

Sánchez-Migallón MC, Valiente-Soriano FJ, Nadal-Nicolás FM, Di Pierdomenico J, Vidal-Sanz M, Agudo-Barriuso M (2018) Survival of melanopsin expressing retinal ganglion cells long term after optic nerve trauma in mice. Exp Eye Res 174:93-97. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.05.029 PMID: 29856984

Summary: Melanopsin-positive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) do not respond to axotomy in the same way than the rest of RGCs, and so while image-forming RGCs die in two exponential phases, non-image forming RGCs die only during the first quick phase.

Usage: Retinas were dissected as flat mounts and double-immunostained against melanopsin (1:5000).

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

Wong JCY, Smyllie NJ, Banks GT, Pothecary CA, Barnard AR, Maywood ES, Jagannath A, Hughes S, van der Horst GTJ, MacLaren RE, Hankins MW, Hastings MH, Nolan PM, Foster RG, Peirson SN (2018) Differential roles for cryptochromes in the mammalian retinal clock. FASEB J 32:4302-4314. doi: 10.1096/fj.201701165RR PMID: 29561690

Objective: To determine roles of cryptochromes (CRY) in the retinal clock.

Summary: Data suggest that CRY1 is an essential component of the mammalian retinal clock, whereas CRY2 has a more limited role.

Usage: Immunohistochemistry 1:2500.

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

Ing-Esteves S, Kostadinov D, Marocha J, Sing AD, Joseph KS, Laboulaye MA, Sanes JR, Lefebvre JL (2018) Combinatorial effects of alpha- and gamma-protocadherins on neuronal survival and dendritic self-avoidance. J Neurosci 38:2713-2729. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3035-17.2018 PMID: 29439167

Objective: The clustered protocadherins (Pcdhs) comprise 58 cadherin-related proteins encoded by three tandemly arrayed gene clusters, Pcdh- , Pcdh- , and Pcdh- (Pcdha, Pcdhb, and Pcdhg, respectively). This study sought to determine roles of Pcdhas and Pcdhgs in the retina and cerebellum from mice (both sexes) lacking one or both clusters.

Summary: Study examined two regions of the CNS, the retina and cerebellum and showed that the 14 -Pcdhs and 22 -Pcdhs act synergistically to mediate neuronal survival and dendrite patterning. In retina, Pcdhgs are essential for survival of inner retinal neurons and dendritic self-avoidance of starburst amacrine cells, whereas Pcdhas are dispensable for both processes.

Usage: Anti-Melanopsin (1:5000) used to quantify two mutually exclusive RGC cell types, the Brn3a RGCs and the melanopsin-positive intrinsically photo- sensitive RGCs (Mel ipRGCs).

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

Grillo SL, Stella SL, Jr. (2018) Melanopsin retinal ganglion cells are not labeled in Thy-1YFP-16 transgenic mice. Neuroreport 29:118-122. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000000918 PMID: 29251688

Objective: To determine whether mRGCs are labeled with YFP in Thy-1 YFP-16 transgenic mice. The transgenic Thy-1 YFP mouse line 16 (Thy-1 YFP-16) expresses yellow-fluorescent protein (YFP) in projection neurons, including RGCs.

Summary: The majority of mRGC somas and axons are not labeled with YFP in the transgenic Thy-1 YFP-16 mouse line; therefore, this mouse model may not suitable for research involving mRGC visual pathways.

Usage: Affinity purified rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against melanopsin (1:500) was used to label mRGCs (Retinal ganglion cells expressing melanopsin). Immunolabeled Thy-1 YFP-16 mouse retina with anti-melanopsin and found that majority (∼89%) of mRGCs are not YFP-positive despite numerous other YFP-positive RGCs in the retina.

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

Potter H, Alenciks E, Frazier K, Porter A, Fraley GS (2018) Immunolesion of melanopsin neurons causes gonadal regression in Pekin drakes (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 256:16-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.08.006

Objective: Examine effects of loss of melanopsin in drakes.

Summary: Loss of melanopsin in PMM elicits decrease in GnRH mRNA expression, gonadal regression, and sex behaviors in drakes.

Usage: To specifically lesion melanopsin-receptive neurons, 3 μl of an anti-melanopsin-saporin conjugate (MSAP, 100 ng/ul) was injected into the lateral ventricle (n = 10). Control drakes were injected with 3 μl of equimolar unconjugated anti-melanopsin and saporin (SAP, n = 10).

Related Products: Melanopsin-SAP (Cat. #IT-44), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)

Delwig A, Chaney S, Bertke A, Verweij J, Quirce S, Larsen D, Yang C, Buhr E, VAN Gelder R, Gallar J, Margolis T, Copenhagen D (2018) Melanopsin expression in the cornea. Vis Neurosci 35:E004. doi: 10.1017/S0952523817000359 PMID: 29905117

Objective: To determine melanopsin expression in cornea.

Summary: Found no light-evoked activation of melanopsin-expressing fibers in cornea or in cell bodies in the TG; melanopsin protein might serve other sensory functions in the cornea. One justification for this idea is that melanopsin expressed in Drosophila photoreceptors can serve as a temperature sensor.

Usage: For the primary staining, we used Anti-Melanopsin at 1:5000 for 3 days.

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

Stabio ME, Sabbah S, Quattrochi LE, Ilardi MC, Fogerson PM, Leyrer ML, Kim MT, Kim I, Schiel M, Renna JM, Briggman KL, Berson DM (2018) The M5 cell: A color-opponent intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell. Neuron 97:150-163. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.11.030 PMID: 29249284

Objective: To provide a fuller description of the least understood ipRGC type, the M5 cell, and discovered a distinctive functional characteristic— chromatic opponency (ultraviolet excitatory, green inhibitory).

Summary: M5 cells send axons to the dLGN and are thus positioned to provide chromatic signals to visual cortex. These findings under- score that melanopsin’s influence extends beyond unconscious reflex functions to encompass cortical vision, perhaps including the perception of color.

Usage: M5 cells have the weakest melanopsin responses of all known ipRGC types. The intrinsic melanopsin response (~10 pA) in M5 cells is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the extrinsic, synaptically mediated response.

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