Summary
Thalamic GABAergic neurons in the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (LGv) play a critical role in circadian entrainment under dim light conditions and in rapid vigilance state changes at light-dark transitions. These findings suggest that non-melanopsin retinal pathways through thalamic GABAergic circuits contribute meaningfully to circadian light responses, which is relevant for understanding how low-intensity lighting environments affect circadian biology.
Key Findings
- IGL/LGv thalamic GABAergic neurons receive retinal input from diverse RGC classes but not from M1 ipRGCs
- Disruption of IGL/LGv thalamic neurons impaired circadian entrainment specifically under dim light conditions
- Loss of thalamic IGL/LGv neurons disrupted rapid vigilance state transitions at circadian light-dark transitions
- Concomitant loss of melanopsin expression exacerbated behavioral entrainment deficits caused by IGL/LGv disruption, indicating synergistic roles
Categories
Sleep & Circadian Health: Identifies thalamic GABAergic neurons in IGL/LGv as necessary for circadian entrainment to dim light and vigilance state transitions at light-dark transitions.
The Science of Light: Characterizes retinal ganglion cell input (excluding M1 ipRGCs) to thalamic projection GABAergic neurons and their synergistic role with melanopsin in circadian photoentrainment.
Author(s)
O Brock, C Gelegen, P Sully, I Salgarella
Publication Year
2022
Number of Citations
6
Related Publications
Sleep & Circadian Health
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- The two‐process model of sleep regulation: a reappraisal
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice
- Strange vision: ganglion cells as circadian photoreceptors
The Science of Light
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- Color appearance models
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice