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Originally published In Press as doi:10.1167/iovs.09-3896 on June 24, 2009
 (Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2009;50:5426-5434.)
© 2009 by The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.
doi:10.1167/iovs.09-3896
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Topographic Arrangement of S-cone Photoreceptors in the Retina of the Diurnal Nile Grass Rat (Arvicanthis niloticus)

Frédéric Gaillard,1 Sharee Kuny,2,3 and Yves Sauvé2,3

From the 1Institut de Physiologie et Biologie Cellulaires, Université de Poitiers, UMR 6187, CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Poitiers, France; and the Departments of 2Physiology and 3Ophthalmology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Corresponding author: Yves Sauvé, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Department of Physiology, 7-55 Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada, T6G 2H7; ysauve{at}ualberta.ca.

Purpose. The retina of Arvicanthis niloticus, a diurnal murine rodent closely related to Rattus (rats) and Mus (mice), contains {approx}30% to 35% cones and has several cone-driven functional characteristics found in humans. In this study the organization of these cone photoreceptors was examined, with emphasis on those expressing the S-opsin photopigment (S-cones).

Methods. Cones were labeled with antibodies against M- and S-opsins. Their topographic arrangement was examined on images of retinal flatmounts using density measures, nearest-neighbor distance, and Voronoi domain analysis. Partial sequencing of the S-opsin DNA was also performed to determine whether this visual pigment was blue/violet or UV sensitive.

Results. Cone photoreceptors (estimated total population {approx}1.450 million) came in two distinct types that express either M/L- or S-opsin. Both types were present across the retinal surface. S-cones ({approx}7–8% of the total cone population) achieved a higher density in a discrete temporodorsal sector of the retina. The S-cone mosaic was irregular. Finally, S-cones were likely to be UV sensitive, according to genetic analysis.

Conclusions. The topographic arrangement of cone photoreceptors in the retina of the diurnal Nile grass rat A. niloticus represents a highly pertinent model to improve understanding of the pathologic course of and related therapy for retinal disease involving cones.






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