Summary
Melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs) serve as the primary irradiance detectors in the mammalian retina, regulating circadian rhythms, pupillary light reflex, melatonin secretion, and sleep/wake cycles. This review explores how mRGC dysfunction across neurodegenerative and retinal diseases—including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy—disrupts non-image forming light responses and associated physiological functions.
Key Findings
- mRGC dysfunction is implicated in a broad range of conditions including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and SAD, all showing altered non-image forming light responses
- Aging-related changes in the melanopsin system contribute to sleep/wake disturbances in older populations
- Diagnostic tools can differentiate retinal diseases by distinguishing mRGC involvement from rod and cone pathology in inner versus outer retina
Categories
Eye Health & Vision: Reviews melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells and their role in retinal pathology across multiple diseases
Sleep & Circadian Health: Discusses how mRGC dysfunction disrupts circadian photoentrainment, melatonin secretion, and sleep/wake cycles
The Science of Light: Examines the biological mechanisms of irradiance detection and non-image forming light responses
Author(s)
G Esquiva, J Hannibal
Publication Year
2019
Number of Citations
24
Related Publications
Eye Health & Vision
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Genetic reactivation of cone photoreceptors restores visual responses in retinitis pigmentosa
- Melanopsin and rod–cone photoreceptors play different roles in mediating pupillary light responses during exposure to continuous light in humans
- Characteristic patterns of dendritic remodeling in early-stage glaucoma: evidence from genetically identified retinal ganglion cell types
- Intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin retinal ganglion cell contributions to the pupillary light reflex and circadian rhythm
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