1. Degeneration of human photosensitive retinal ganglion cells may explain sleep and circadian rhythms disorders in Parkinson's disease.
- Author
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Ortuño-Lizarán I, Esquiva G, Beach TG, Serrano GE, Adler CH, Lax P, and Cuenca N
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Male, Retinal Ganglion Cells metabolism, Rod Opsins metabolism, Chronobiology Disorders etiology, Chronobiology Disorders pathology, Nerve Degeneration etiology, Parkinson Disease complications, Retinal Ganglion Cells pathology, Sleep Wake Disorders etiology, Sleep Wake Disorders pathology
- Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients often suffer from non-motor symptoms like sleep dysregulation, mood disturbances or circadian rhythms dysfunction. The melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells are involved in the control and regulation of these processes and may be affected in PD, as other retinal and visual implications have been described in the disease. Number and morphology of human melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in eyes from donors with PD or control. The Sholl number of intersections, the number of branches, and the number of terminals from the Sholl analysis were significantly reduced in PD melanopsin ganglion cells. Also, the density of these cells significantly decreased in PD compared to controls. Degeneration and impairment of the retinal melanopsin system may affect to sleep and circadian dysfunction reported in PD pathology, and its protection or stimulation may lead to better disease prospect and global quality of life of patients.
- Published
- 2018
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