Mitochondria in Retinal Ganglion Cells

This project aims to characterize the biology of mitochondria in the RGC dendritic compartment, with particular emphasis on how these organelles are turned over before and after optic nerve damage.

Retinal ganglion cells receive input from a tree-like dendritic arbor that exhibits pathology after optic nerve damage. This study examines the biology of energy producing organelles called mitochondria in arbor pathology including how specialized cells called microglia participate in this process.

This marks the first time anyone has mapped mitochondria in the dendritic arbors of ganglion cells.

Ganglion cells are also really sensitive to abnormalities in mitochondria – the powerhouse organelle in every cells that makes energy. It is so profound, that mutations that affect mitochondrial function in every cell lead to optic nerve disease as sometimes the only consequence. We hope that this study will help us better understand why ganglion cells are so sensitive to mitochondrial function which could lead to the development of novel treatments to enhance ganglion cell resilience.