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Nicolás Cuenca
University of Alicante
Spain
The image shows one the most specialized cells of our body, the photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are involved in the first step of visual process. Monkey retinal section were triple immnunolabeled with antibodies against alpha-synuclein in red, and arrestin and rhodopsin in green to show the entire morphology of cones (green, elongated cells) from the outer segment to their axon terminals (pedicles), and rod outer segments (top green lines) and rod axon terminal (spherules, red dots). Cones and rods are high specialized neurons that convert light information into electrical signals and have an exquisite organization into perfect mosaics of cells allow us to see the world around us.
Dr. Saravana Kumar
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
Singapur
This picture is a composite of two in vivo retinal fluorescence images, of an F1 hybrid (FVB/N×C57BL/6J) mouse, acquired using the Spectralis system from Heidelberg Engineering. The mouse carries a transgene which enables the expression of the retinal glial cells (green pseudocolor) in the first image whereas the second image shows the corresponding retinal vasculature (red pseudocolor) visualized via fluorescein angiography. The images were captured sequentially and spatially registered via affine transformation to generate the final composite image. The composite image illustrates the close interaction between the glial cells and the blood vessels (the blood vessels are surrounded by glial cells) and also underlines the potential for quantifying, in a preclinical mouse model, retinal gliosis which is an in vivo biomarker for various retinopathies.
Nicolás Cuenca
University of Alicante
Spain
Using confocal microscopy it is possible to observer the beauty and complexity of the retina. The main cell types and interconnecting networks are clearly labeled with specific antibodies for each population of neurons. This technique allows us to discover at the microscopy level the surprising texture and shape of neurons, their variety and their exquisite cell organization. The three primary colors of the fluorophores combine to generate a rich assortment of colors at the sites where the labeled proteins co-localize. Each color labels a cell type population of neurons that have a specific function in visual processes. We used three primary antibodies which recognized the protein alpha-synuclein (red), which stain axon terminals and outer segments of cones and rods and a specific population of bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells. Also, GABA (blue) and glycine (green) were used which labels amacrine and bipolar cells respectivelly. The detailed knowledge of retinal structure and synaptic connectivity that emerges from studies combining the use of confocal microscopy and immunohitochemistry is proving invaluable in increasing our understanding of the operation of the normal retina and furthering our understanding of degenerative diseases of the retina and their mode of action.
Angela Chappell
Ophthalmology Department, Flinders Medical Centre
Australia
A pterygium is a wedge-shaped growth of tissue from the nasal conjunctiva which invades the cornea (this image has been rotated 90 degrees). Ultra-violet light exposure is known to be a risk factor for this condition, which is common in Australia. The other underlying risk factors are not well understood but some families appear to have a predisposition to developing pterygium. We have initiated a study to determine the importance of genetic risk factors in pterygium.