Retinal patterns and the cellular repertoire of neuropsin (Opn5) retinal ganglion cells

Abstract

Obtaining a parts list of the sensory components of the retina is vital to understand the effects of light in behavior, health, and disease. Rods, cones, and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are the best described photoreceptors in the mammalian retina, but recent functional roles have been proposed for retinal neuropsin (Opn5)-an atypical opsin. However, little is known about the pattern of Opn5 expression in the retina. Using cre (Opn5 cre ) and cre-dependent reporters, we uncover patterns of Opn5 expression and find that Opn5 is restricted to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Opn5-RGCs are nonhomogenously distributed through the retina, with greater densities of cells located in the dorsotemporal quadrant. In addition to the local topology of these cells, using cre-dependent AAV viral tracing, we surveyed their central targets and found that they are biased towards image-forming and image-stabilizing regions. Finally, molecular and electrophysiological profiling reveal that Opn5-RGCs comprise previously defined RGC types that respond optimally to edges and objectmotion (F-mini-ONs, HD2, HD1, LEDs, ooDSRGCs, etc.). Together, these data describe the second collection of RGCs that express atypical opsins in the mouse, and expand the roles of image-forming cells in retinal physiology and function. INTRODUCTIONRetinal ganglion cells (RGCs) comprise a diverse collection of 45 or more projection neuron types that link retinal events, such as theThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.

Diurnal regulation of metabolism by Gs-alpha in hypothalamic QPLOT neurons

“…We used Opn5 cre to delete Gnas because Opn5 is a highly conserved marker in the QPLOT population [ 23 ]. In the adult central nervous system, Opn5 cre is only detected in the hypothalamic preoptic area and a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) [ 6 , 32 , 41 ]. Opn5 mutant mice experience elevated metabolism secondary to increased SNS activity [ 6 ] and this is attributed to the Opn5 -expressing neurons in the hypothalamic preoptic area.…”

“…Enucleated mice, which experience no influence of retinal Opn5 , show similar metabolic perturbations as global Opn5 mutants [ 6 ]. Retinal Opn5 is confined to a small subset of all RGCs, and these Opn5 -expressing RGCs do not project to the SCN [ 41 ]. Therefore, it is very unlikely that the daily rhythmic differences we observed can be attributed to retinal Opn5 cells.…”

Opsin 5 mediates violet light-induced early growth response-1 expression in the mouse retina

“…In addition, our study supports the understanding of the future mode of action of VL exposure in myopia suppression. OPN5 (G-protein coupled receptor 136 or neuropsin) has been identi ed in human, mouse, and zebra sh genomes, and its expression has been detected in many neuronal tissues, including the brain and retina [28][29][30][31] . Although further studies are needed, this gene has been characterized as a UVA (380 nm)sensitive opsin in mice.…”

In the Eye of the Beholder: Measuring and Standardising Light for Laboratory Mammals

“…There are three classes: the rod and cone photoreceptors, expressing rhodopsin and cone opsin photopigments, respectively, localized to the outermost retinal layers, and the melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs or mRGCs) found in the retinal ganglion cell layer of the inner retina. Two other opsins are expressed in the inner retina, neuropsin (Opn5) and encephalopsin (Opn3) [35,36], but understanding of their contribution to mammalian photobiology is in a nascent stage. As that field develops, the role of these photoreceptors could be revisited and integrated within the α-opic metrology.…”