Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors
Abstract Rod and cone photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons responsible for transforming the information reaching the eyes in the form of photons into the language of neuronal activity. Rods are the most prevalent photoreceptor type, primarily responsible for light detection under conditions o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07473-6 |
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| author | Tylor R. Lewis Natalia V. Klementieva Sebastien Phan Carson M. Castillo Keun-Young Kim Lauren Y. Cao Mark H. Ellisman Vadim Y. Arshavsky Oleg Alekseev |
| author_facet | Tylor R. Lewis Natalia V. Klementieva Sebastien Phan Carson M. Castillo Keun-Young Kim Lauren Y. Cao Mark H. Ellisman Vadim Y. Arshavsky Oleg Alekseev |
| author_sort | Tylor R. Lewis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rod and cone photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons responsible for transforming the information reaching the eyes in the form of photons into the language of neuronal activity. Rods are the most prevalent photoreceptor type, primarily responsible for light detection under conditions of limited illumination. Here we demonstrate that human rods have a morphological organization unique among all described species, whereby the cell soma extends alongside the light-sensitive outer segment compartment to form a structure we have termed the “accessory inner segment.” These structures have two striking features: they are reinforced by a massive microtubular cytoskeleton and contain electron-dense adhesions that mediate their attachment to outer segments. Given that the spacing of human rod photoreceptors is sparser than in most other species, the accessory inner segment likely provides mechanical support to the closely apposed outer segment. This discovery expands our understanding of the human retina and directs future studies of human photoreceptor function in health and disease. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3512be5b82784508b564b75a8ef7d752 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-3512be5b82784508b564b75a8ef7d7522025-01-19T12:35:34ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-01-01811510.1038/s42003-025-07473-6Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptorsTylor R. Lewis0Natalia V. Klementieva1Sebastien Phan2Carson M. Castillo3Keun-Young Kim4Lauren Y. Cao5Mark H. Ellisman6Vadim Y. Arshavsky7Oleg Alekseev8Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of MedicineNational Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San DiegoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of MedicineNational Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San DiegoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of MedicineNational Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San DiegoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke University School of MedicineAbstract Rod and cone photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons responsible for transforming the information reaching the eyes in the form of photons into the language of neuronal activity. Rods are the most prevalent photoreceptor type, primarily responsible for light detection under conditions of limited illumination. Here we demonstrate that human rods have a morphological organization unique among all described species, whereby the cell soma extends alongside the light-sensitive outer segment compartment to form a structure we have termed the “accessory inner segment.” These structures have two striking features: they are reinforced by a massive microtubular cytoskeleton and contain electron-dense adhesions that mediate their attachment to outer segments. Given that the spacing of human rod photoreceptors is sparser than in most other species, the accessory inner segment likely provides mechanical support to the closely apposed outer segment. This discovery expands our understanding of the human retina and directs future studies of human photoreceptor function in health and disease.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07473-6 |
| spellingShingle | Tylor R. Lewis Natalia V. Klementieva Sebastien Phan Carson M. Castillo Keun-Young Kim Lauren Y. Cao Mark H. Ellisman Vadim Y. Arshavsky Oleg Alekseev Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors Communications Biology |
| title | Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors |
| title_full | Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors |
| title_fullStr | Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors |
| title_short | Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors |
| title_sort | unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07473-6 |
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