The fact that the retina develops from the diencephalic invagination of the pluripotent cells allows the retina to share many morphological similarities with the brain. As an extension of the brain, the concept of the retina mirroring the brain state has received increasing interest in recent years and is considered a suitable model for advancing our understanding of many CNS neuronal degeneration diseases in addition to retinal diseases as well as providing a glimpse into the aging brain. Therefore, the retina is a superb model to study the response of neurons to injury and disease and to test novel treatments. Retinal cell types and its circuits also form complex neural networks, like those in the cerebral cortex.
Additionally, vision is a key human sense, and despite this, there is still plenty we don't know about its neuronal networks and function. The retina contains millions of neurons that translate light into electrical signals for the brain. Many of these neurons are still unknown to us, leaving major gaps in the literature.
Taking all together, studying retinas provides many opportunities for advancing the understanding of neuronal mechanisms and its impact on neuronal structure and function in the visual pathways and other CNS areas.
The goal of this Research Topic is to aggregate new and exciting research to further understand the retina. Therapeutic treatments for retinal disorders as well as retinal biomarkers for CNS diseases are also of interest.
We are interested in original research articles in any of these areas:
• Comparative retinas in species
• Evolution of RGCs
• Amacrine Cells
• Ganglion cells
• Horizontal cells
• Bipolar Cells
• Wiring the outer/inner retina
• Human retinal structure
• Retinal diseases/degeneration
• Electrical synapses
• Treatments, prognosis, and diagnostics
Picture credit goes to Prof. Dr. Laura Fernandez Sanchez.
The fact that the retina develops from the diencephalic invagination of the pluripotent cells allows the retina to share many morphological similarities with the brain. As an extension of the brain, the concept of the retina mirroring the brain state has received increasing interest in recent years and is considered a suitable model for advancing our understanding of many CNS neuronal degeneration diseases in addition to retinal diseases as well as providing a glimpse into the aging brain. Therefore, the retina is a superb model to study the response of neurons to injury and disease and to test novel treatments. Retinal cell types and its circuits also form complex neural networks, like those in the cerebral cortex.
Additionally, vision is a key human sense, and despite this, there is still plenty we don't know about its neuronal networks and function. The retina contains millions of neurons that translate light into electrical signals for the brain. Many of these neurons are still unknown to us, leaving major gaps in the literature.
Taking all together, studying retinas provides many opportunities for advancing the understanding of neuronal mechanisms and its impact on neuronal structure and function in the visual pathways and other CNS areas.
The goal of this Research Topic is to aggregate new and exciting research to further understand the retina. Therapeutic treatments for retinal disorders as well as retinal biomarkers for CNS diseases are also of interest.
We are interested in original research articles in any of these areas:
• Comparative retinas in species
• Evolution of RGCs
• Amacrine Cells
• Ganglion cells
• Horizontal cells
• Bipolar Cells
• Wiring the outer/inner retina
• Human retinal structure
• Retinal diseases/degeneration
• Electrical synapses
• Treatments, prognosis, and diagnostics
Picture credit goes to Prof. Dr. Laura Fernandez Sanchez.