title: Rod photoreceptor ribbon synapses in DBA/2J mice show progressive age-related structural changes.
abstract: The DBA/2J mouse is a commonly used animal model in glaucoma research. The eyes of DBA/2J mice show severe age-related changes that finally lead to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve. Recent electroretinogram studies identified functional deficits, which suggest that also photoreceptor cells are involved in the pathological processes occurring in the DBA/2J mouse retina. In a comparative study, we examined anatomical and molecular changes in the retinae of DBA/2J and C57BL/6 control mice with light and electron microscopy and with PCR analyses. In the retina of the DBA/2J mouse, we found a thinning of the outer plexiform layer, the first synaptic layer in the transfer of visual signals, and age-dependent and progressive degenerative structural changes at rod photoreceptor ribbon synapses. The structural ribbon changes represent a photoreceptor synaptic phenotype that has not yet been described in this animal model of secondary angle-closure glaucoma. Furthermore, genes of the classical complement cascade were upregulated in the photoreceptor cells of aging DBA/2J mice, suggesting a putative link between ribbon synapse degradation and the innate immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Animal Physiology, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sendelbeck
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atorf
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schlegel
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enz
authors.forename: Johann Helmut
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Brandstätter
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015922:Complement C1q / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015922:Complement C1q