Retina is composed of a heterogeneous population of cell types, each with a unique biological function. Even if the same type of cells, due to genetic heterogeneity will lead to cell function differences. In the past, traditional molecular biological methods cannot resolve variations in their functional roles that arise from these differences, and some cells are difficult to define due to the lack of specific molecular markers or the scarcity of numbers, which hindered the understanding and research of these cells. With the development of biotechnology, single-cell RNA sequencing can analyze and resolve differences in single-cell transcriptome expression profiles, characterize intracellular population heterogeneity, identify new and rare cell subtypes, and more definitely define the characteristics of each cell type. It clarifies the origin, function, and variations in cell phenotypes. Other attributes include pinpointing both disease-related characteristics of cell subtypes and specific differential gene expression patterns, to deepen our understanding of the causes and progression of diseases, as well as to aid clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of form deprivation on the morphology of different types of RGC in mice.MethodsSixty B6.Cg-Tg (Thy1-YFP) HJrs/J transgenic mice were randomly assigned to form-deprived group (n=28) and control group (n=32). The right eyes of mice in the form-deprived group were covered by an occluder for 2 weeks as experimental eyes. The right eyes of mice in the control group were taken as control eyes. Before and 2 weeks after form deprivation, the refraction and ocular biometrics were measured; RGC were stained with Bra3a antibody and counted; the morphology of RGC was reconstructed with Neuroexplore software after immunohistochemical staining. The data was compared among experimental eyes, fellow eyes and control eyes by one-way analysis of variance.ResultsTwo weeks after form deprivation, the axial myopia was observed in the experimental eyes (refraction: F=15.009, P＜0.001; vitreous chamber depth: F=3.360, P=0047; ocluar axial length: F=5.011, P=0013). The number of RGC in central retina of the experimental eyes was decreased compared with the fellow eyes and the control eyes (F=4.769, P=0.035). The reconstructed RGC were classified into 4 types according to their dendritic morphology. Form deprivation affected all 4 types of RGC but in a different way. Among them, 3 types of RGC were likely contribute to form vision perception. Form deprivation increased the dendrite branches in these types of ganglion cells. However, form deprivation decreasd dendrite segment numbers in both eyes and the intersection and length insholl analyse type 4 ganglion cells which were morphologically identified as ipRGC.ConclusionForm deprivation distinguishingly affects the morphology of different types of RGC, indicating that form vision and non-form vision play different role in myopia development.
Objective To screen mitochondrial DNA mutations in 3 Chinese pedigrees with Leberprime;s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) carrying the ND1 G3635A mutation. Methods 88 members（53 maternal relatives and 35 paternal relatives）in 3 pedigrees were enrolled. The ophthalmologic examinations were performed for all members, including visual acuity (standard logarithmic visual acuity charts), fundus photography (Canon fundus camera),visual field (Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer), color vision (Yu zhiping color vision plate), and visual evoked potentials (Roland Consult RETI port gamma, flash VEP). 16 members had LHON, 72 members did not have LHON. 135 healthy people from Wenzhou were included as the control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of all subjects. G3635A mutation was screened by PCR mplification of mitochondrial DNA for all subjects. Mitochondrial haplotypes and other mutations in the entire mitochondrial genome were also determined by PCR using 24 pairs of primers for the probands. Results Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in 3 pedigrees revealed the presence of ND1 G3635A mutation in 3 probands and all maternal relatives, but not in paternal relatives and healthy controls. Probandprime;s haplogroup belong to East Asia group N9a3, D4, and R11a. In addition to the G3635A mutation, probands also had other variants including 12 variants in D-loop region, 6 variants in RNA gene, and 36 variants in protein-encoding gene. Conclusions G3635A mutation was identified in probands and maternal relatives of 3 pedigrees of LHON. It showed that G3635A mutation was the pathogenic molecular basis for those patients.
Objective To observe the molecular genetic characteristics of seven Chinese families with Leberprime;s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Methods Ophthalmologic examinations were performed on seven probands, maternal members from seven Chinese families and 134 healthy controls. There were two LHON patients in seven Chinese families except probands. The entire mitochondrial genome was amplified using 24 pairs of oligonucleotide primers with overlapping fragments.The mutational site was analyzed through comparison of the Results and Cambridge reference sequence. The penetrance of mutation site was calculated and the haplotype was analyzed. Results Molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in these pedigrees revealed the absence of three common LHON associated with ND4 G11778A, ND1 G3460A and ND6 T14484C mutations. The ND1 T3394C mutation in probands and other matrilineal relatives was present in four out of 134 Chinese healthy controls. Strikingly, these families exhibited very low penetrance of visual impairment. The penetrance was 12.50%, 22.22%, 16.76%, 6.25%, 9.09%, 11.11% and 28.57%. The Results of phylogenetic tree analysis of submitochondrial haplotype showed that these mtDNA polymorphism sites belong to the Asian haplogroups M9, M9, M, D4, M, M9 and M9. Conclusions T3394C mutation exists in seven Chinese LHON pedigrees, and the penetrance was ranged from 6.25% to 28.57%. The patients have different clinical manifestations.