Abstract
Purpose :
Disruptions of synaptic connectivity between bipolar cells (BCs) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are among the earliest pathologic events in the inner retina following transient ocular hypertension. It is not known whether the adult retina has the potential for rewiring or recovery of synaptic connectivity at the BC-RGC synapse. Here we investigated the connectivity between individual RGCs and presynaptic BCs after intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, specifically for anatomic and functional evidence of rewiring and recovery.
Methods :
Laser photocoagulation of the episcleral and limbal vessels was performed unilaterally in adult CD-1 mouse eyes, generating transient IOP elevation lasting 7 days. Whole-mount retinas were biolistically transfected to label RGCs and their excitatory postsynaptic sites (PSD95). Immunostaining with CtBP2 labeled presynaptic ribbons while immunostaining with Synaptotagmin-2 and PKCalpha labeled axon terminals of Type 6 and rod bipolar cells, respectively. RGC connectivity was measured by colocalization analysis in three dimensions using ObjectFinder on confocal Z-stacks of individual RGC dendrites at 7, 14, and 30 days after IOP elevation. Longitudinal scotopic flash ERG recordings were also performed at these same time points. Statistics were performed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank-sum test.
Results :
We examined the alpha ON-sustained RGC because of its known synaptic circuitry both in development and adulthood. The main bipolar cell partner of the alpha ON-sustained RGC is the type 6 bipolar, and there is preferential loss of this major partner as early as 7 days after IOP elevation (64 vs. 37%, control vs. laser; p=0.001). Surprisingly, 30 days after IOP elevation, we found evidence of rewiring with a new partner, namely the rod bipolar cell (5.2% vs. 12.3% rod bipolar cell inputs, control vs. laser; p=0.0043). Furthermore, the normalized scotopic b wave initially showed a depressed amplitude but eventually recovered to control level amplitude by 30 days after IOP elevation.
Conclusions :
The alpha ON-sustained RGC preferentially loses its major bipolar cell partner (type 6) early after transient IOP elevation. However, over time new bipolar cell partners, namely rod bipolar cells, rewire with these RGCs. Together with recovery of the scotopic b wave amplitude, these data suggest that the adult diseased retina may exhibit circuit-level plasticity.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.