Retina may be able to ‘rewire’ itself

PORTLAND, Ore. — The retina’s circuitry are “much more pliable” than previously thought, according to researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

Jozsef Vigh, PhD, and colleagues at the university found that small nerve cells called amacrine cells help the terminals in bipolar cell to filter the bombardment of signals being sent by photoreceptors to the bipolar cells before they are forwarded on to ganglion cells, according to a press release from the university.

In a study of goldfish retinas, researchers found that the synapses between the amacrine and bipolar cells “can become altered during sudden changes in ambient light,” according to the press release.

“This change, known as plasticity, occurs during exchanges of amino acids that serve as signals between the cells and has long-term duration: It can last as long as 10 minutes,” the release said. The researchers are hoping their discovery will help in future efforts to develop prosthetic retinal devices that allow changes in light to trigger spike signals within ganglion cells.

The study, published in the May issue of Neuron, was funded by a research grant from the National Eye Institute.