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Editors Selection IGR 16-4

Basic research: Parvalbumin

Comment by Yeni Yucel on:

14332 Morphological classification of parvalbumin-containing retinal ganglion cells in mouse: single-cell injection after immunocytochemistry, Kim TJ; Jeon CJ, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 2006; 47: 2757-2764

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The pertinent result of the paper by Kim and Jeon (654) is that retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in mouse retina containing parvalbumin, a calcium binding protein, represent at least 8 morphologically distinct RGCs. The classification of the parvalbumin-positive RGCs is based on variation in cell body size, the location and the complexity of their dendritic arbor within the retina. Their dendritic arbor was visualized by intracellular injection of lipophilic dye DiI in a fixed and isolated retina after immunostaining for parvalbumin. The experiments are carefully performed and solid, however,

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in mouse retina containing parvalbumin represent at least 8 morphologically distinct RGCs

the percent of the various cell types is not conclusive because of the small sample size. The presence of axon labeling in neurons in the ganglion cell layer was used as the criteria to differentiate RGCs from displaced amacrine cells. However, the lack of axon labeling in the retina after fixation may be problematic, and may lead to an overestimation of displaced amacrine cells. Back labeling of RGCs by injection into RGC target structures in the brain may better identify the RGCs. Future studies will be very important to determine the possible functional features of these RGC types.The findings of distinct RGC types in the mouse retina are in keeping with findings in human, monkey, cat and rabbit, of 10-15 RGC types.¹ In view of the developing mouse model of glaucoma, additional knowledge of mouse RGC biology and physiology is highly relevant.

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