New type of nerve cell discovered in the retina
The newly identified Campana cell could play a role in visual signal processing

Date:
November 1, 2021
Source:
University of Utah Health
Summary:
Scientists have discovered a new type of nerve cell, or neuron,
in the retina. In the central nervous system a complex circuitry
of neurons communicate with each other to relay sensory and motor
information; so- called interneurons serve as intermediaries in
the chain of communication.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah
have discovered a new type of nerve cell, or neuron, in the retina.


==========================================================================
In the central nervous system a complex circuitry of neurons
communicate with each other to relay sensory and motor information;
so-called interneurons serve as intermediaries in the chain of
communication. Publishing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, a research team led by Ning
Tian, PhD, identifies a previously unknown type of interneuron in the
mammalian retina.

The discovery marks a notable development for the field as scientists
work toward a better understanding of the central nervous system by
identifying all classes of neurons and their connections.

"Based on its morphology, physiology, and genetic properties, this cell
doesn't fit into the five classes of retinal neurons first identified
more than 100 years ago," said Tian. "We propose they might belong to
a new retinal neuron class by themselves." The research team named
their discovery the Campana cell after its shape, which resembles a hand
bell. Campana cells relay visual signals from both types of light-sensing
rod and cone photoreceptors in the retina, but their precise purpose
is the subject of ongoing research. Experiments showed Campana cells
remain activated for an unusually long time -- as long as 30 seconds --
in response to a 10 millisecond light flash stimulation.

"In the brain, persistent firing cells are believed to be involved in
memory and learning," said Tian. "Since Campana cells have a similar
behavior, we theorize they could play a role in prompting a temporal
'memory' of a recent stimulation." The published research study is:
"An uncommon neuronal class conveys visual signals from rods and cones
to retinal ganglion cells." Authors are: Brent K.

Young, Charu Ramakrishnan, Tushar Ganjawala, Ping Wang, Karl Deisseroth,
and Ning Tian.

Funding for the research came from National Institutes of Health grants R01EY012345, R01EY031699, T32EY024234, HHMI. This work was supported by
NIH Core Grant (EY014800), and an Unrestricted Grant from Research to
Prevent Blindness, New York, NY, to the Department of Ophthalmology &
Visual Sciences, University of Utah, and the Department of Ophthalmology
of Wayne State University School of Medicine. The work was also supported
by Ligon Research Center of Vision, Kresge Eye Institute, and the Dryer Foundation.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Utah_Health. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
* The_newly_identified_Campana_cell.

========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Brent K. Young, Charu Ramakrishnan, Tushar Ganjawala, Ping Wang,
Karl
Deisseroth, Ning Tian. An uncommon neuronal class conveys visual
signals from rods and cones to retinal ganglion cells. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021; 118 (44): e2104884118
DOI: 10.1073/ pnas.2104884118 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211101105427.htm

--- up 8 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)