Effects of elevated intraocular pressure on alpha ganglion cells in experimental glaucoma mice.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide and glaucoma patients exhibit an early diffuse loss of retinal sensitivity followed by focal loss of RGCs. Combining some previous published results and some new data, this paper provides our current view on how high IOP (H-IOP) affects the light response sensitivity of a subset of RGCs, the alpha-ganglion cells (αGCs), as well as their presynaptic bipolar cells (DBCs and HBCs) and A2 amacrine cells (AIIACs) in dark-adapted mouse retinas. Our data demonstrate that H-IOP in experimental glaucoma mice significantly decreases light-evoked spike response sensitivity of sONαGCs and sOFFαGCs (i.e., raises thresholds by 1.5-2.5 log units), but not that of the tONαGCs and tOFFαGCs. The sensitivity loss in sONαGCs and sOFFαGCs is mediated by a H-IOP induced suppression of AIIAC response which is caused by a decrease of transmission efficacy of the DBCR→AIIAC synapse. We also provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that BK channels in the A17AC→DBCR feedback synapse are the H-IOP sensor that regulates the DBCR→AIIAC synaptic efficacy, as BK channel blocker IBTX mimics the action of H-IOP. Our results provide useful information for designing strategies for early detection and possible treatments of glaucoma as physiological changes occur before irreversible structural damage.

Wu SM ，Pang JJ 《-》

Elevated intraocular pressure decreases response sensitivity of inner retinal neurons in experimental glaucoma mice.

Pang JJ ，Frankfort BJ ，Gross RL ，Wu SM ... -  《-》

Synaptic circuitry mediating light-evoked signals in dark-adapted mouse retina.

Wu SM ，Gao F ，Pang JJ 《VISION RESEARCH》

Relative contributions of rod and cone bipolar cell inputs to AII amacrine cell light responses in the mouse retina.

Pang JJ ，Abd-El-Barr MM ，Gao F ，Bramblett DE ，Paul DL ，Wu SM ... -  《-》

Light-evoked current responses in rod bipolar cells, cone depolarizing bipolar cells and AII amacrine cells in dark-adapted mouse retina.

Pang JJ ，Gao F ，Wu SM 《-》