title: Integrative properties of retinal ganglion cell electrical responsiveness depend on neurotrophic support and genotype in the mouse.
abstract: Early stages of glaucoma and optic neuropathies are thought to show inner retina remodeling and functional changes of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) before they die. To assess RGC functional plasticity, we investigated the contrast-gain control properties of the pattern electroretinogram (PERG), a sensitive measure of RGC function, as an index of spatio-temporal integration occurring in the inner retina circuitry subserving PERG generators. We studied the integrative properties of the PERG in mice exposed to different conditions of neurotrophic support. We also investigated the effect of genotypic differences among mouse strains with different susceptibility to glaucoma (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, DBA/2.Gpnmb(+)). Results show that the integrative properties of the PERG recorded in the standard C57BL/6J inbred mouse strain are impaired after deficit of neurotrophic support and partially restored after exogenous neurotrophic administration. Changes in PERG amplitude, latency, and contrast-dependent responses differ between mouse strains with different susceptibility to glaucoma. Results represent a proof of concept that the PERG could be used as a tool for in-vivo monitoring of RGC functional plasticity before RGC death, the effect of neuroactive treatments, as well as for high-throughput tool for phenotypic screening of different mouse genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tsung-Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Feuer
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Odelia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mario J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roebber
authors.affiliation: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. Electronic address: vporciatti@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Porciatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000066670:Cell Plasticity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Contrast gain control; Glaucoma susceptibility; Mouse; Pattern electroretinogram; Retinal ganglion cell function; Retinal plasticity