Retinal Ganglion Cell

A neurons cell type of the human nervous system.

The retina's output neuron; its axons form the optic nerve and are selectively damaged in glaucoma.

Function

Relay retinal output for image-forming vision; intrinsically photosensitive RGC (ipRGC) subtypes expressing melanopsin support circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex.

Morphology

Multipolar neuron with a dendritic arbor in the inner plexiform layer and a long axon forming the optic nerve; soma/arbor size varies across >40 RGC subtypes.

Specification

  • Neurotransmitter: Glutamate (excitatory projection neuron)
  • Receptors: AMPA; NMDA
  • Location: Retina, ganglion cell layer; axons exit via the optic disc to form the optic nerve
  • Projections: LGN; Superior colliculus
  • Firing: Spontaneous; Light-evoked
  • Markers: RBPMS (pan-RGC selective); POU4F2/BRN3B (and BRN3A); SNCG; TUBB3; Thy-1/CD90 (supporting); OPN4/melanopsin marks the ipRGC subtype
  • Developmental origin: Diencephalon (Optic cup)
  • Disease: Glaucoma (progressive RGC/optic-nerve-axon loss); optic neuritis; other optic neuropathies; ischemic/neurodegenerative RGC loss
  • Cell Ontology: CL:0000740

References

  1. Curcio CA & Allen KA (1990). Topography of ganglion cells in human retina.. The Journal of comparative neurology 300 PMID 2229487
  2. Rodriguez AR, de Sevilla Müller LP, & Brecha NC (2014). The RNA binding protein RBPMS is a selective marker of ganglion cells in the mammalian retina.. The Journal of comparative neurology 522 PMID 24318667
  3. Hattar S, Liao HW, Takao M, Berson DM, & Yau KW (2002). Melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells: architecture, projections, and intrinsic photosensitivity.. Science (New York, N.Y.) 295 PMID 11834834

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