Campana cells in mammalian retinas

Abstract

Purpose : Campana cell is a newly identified retinal interneuron that conveys visual signals from photoreceptors to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In this study, we first determined what mammalian species have Campana cells. Secondly, we characterized the age- and location-dependent distribution of Campana cells in the mouse retina.

Methods : To determine what mammalian species have Campana cells, we examined the retinas of mice (n=6), rats (n=3), rabbits (n=3), pigs (n=3), monkeys (n=3), and human eyes (n=3). To characterize the age- and location-dependent distribution of Campana cells, we compared the Campana cell density at four-quarters of the retinas of 2-month-old (n=3) and 1-year-old mice (n=3). The anti-GlyT1 antibody was used to label Campana cells. Retinas were imaged using a Zeiss Confocal microscope. Two-tailed Student’s t-test and One-Factor ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

Results : The Campana cells are found in mice, rats, pigs, monkeys, and humans but not in the rabbit’s retina. The density of Campana cells in 2-month-old mice (82.4±6.0/mm²) is lower than that of 1-year-old mice (149.2±9.7/mm², Two-tailed Student’s t-test, p=0.00457). Meanwhile, the Campana cell density of nasal region (126.4±9.1/mm²) and ventral region (91.5±8.6/mm²) is higher than that of temporal region (61.0±5.8/mm²) and dorsal region (50.9±4.8/mm², One-Factor ANOVA, p=0.00034) in both 2-month-old mice retinas and 1-year-old mice retinas (nasal: 210.4±22.7/mm², ventral: 160.5±15.1/mm², temporal: 132.8±18.3/mm², dorsal: 92.9±8.4/mm², One-Factor ANOVA, p=0.00502). In addition, the Campana cell density decreases from the central retina to the peripheral retina in both 2-month-old and 1-year-old mice (2-month-old: A: 132.6±11.6/mm², B: 101.5±13.7/mm², C: 65.6±3.4/mm², D: 45.0±3.1/mm², E: 34.5±4.3/mm², One-Factor ANOVA, p=0.00005; 1-year-old: A: 208.1±19.5/mm², B: 167.7±4.6/mm², C: 143.1±5.2/mm², D: 102.1±6.7/mm², E: 65.3±10.2/mm², One-Factor ANOVA: p=0.00003).

Conclusions : The Campana cells are present in mouse, human, monkey, rat, and pig retinas, but not in the rabbit retina. The distribution of Campana cells is preferentially located in the nasal and ventral retina and more concentrated in the central retina. Besides, the density of Campana cells increases with age in mice.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.