Inverted Retina: A Review of Its Structure, Function, and Relationship to Retinal Diseases
Abstract
Inverted retinas are a unique type of retinal tissue found in certain species of fish, birds, and amphibians. This review provides an overview of the structure and function of inverted retinas and their relationship to retinal diseases. The structure of the inverted retina consists of photoreceptors, interneurons, and glial cells. The unique configuration of the photoreceptors allows for greater sensitivity to light than that found in other retinas. The function of the inverted retina is to detect light and convert it into neural signals that are sent to the brain. The inverted retina’s relationship to retinal diseases is largely unknown, but it has been suggested that the inverted retina may be involved in some forms of retinitis pigmentosa.
Keywords: inverted retina, structure, function, retinal diseases
Introduction
The retina is an essential part of the visual system and is composed of several layers of neurons and glial cells. In some species, such as certain fish, birds, and amphibians, there is a unique type of retinal tissue known as the inverted retina. The inverted retina is composed of photoreceptors, interneurons, and glial cells that are arranged in a unique configuration, allowing for greater sensitivity to light than other retinas. In this review, we will discuss the structure and function of inverted retinas, as well as their relationship to retinal diseases.
Structure
The structure of the inverted retina is unique, with photoreceptors, interneurons, and glial cells arranged in a specific configuration (Vieira et al., 2019). The photoreceptors are arranged in a single layer, with the inner segments facing away from the incoming light and the outer segments facing towards the light. This unique arrangement increases the sensitivity of the inverted retina to light compared to other retinas (Vieira et al., 2019). The interneurons form a second layer, which is located between the photoreceptors and the glial cells. The glial cells form the outermost layer of the inverted retina and are responsible for providing structural and metabolic support to the neurons (Vieira et al., 2019).
Function
The function of the inverted retina is to detect light and convert it into neural signals that are sent to the brain. The unique arrangement of the photoreceptors allows for greater sensitivity to light than that found in other retinas (Vieira et al., 2019). The interneurons process the signals from the photoreceptors and send them to the brain via the optic nerve. The glial cells provide structural and metabolic support for the neurons, ensuring that the retina functions properly (Vieira et al., 2019).
Relationship to Retinal Diseases
The relationship between the inverted retina and retinal diseases is largely unknown. However, it has been suggested that the inverted retina may be involved in some forms of retinitis pigmentosa (van Koolwijk et al., 2017). Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disorder that results in the progressive loss of vision. It is characterized by degeneration of photoreceptors and other retinal cells, which leads to vision loss (van Koolwijk et al., 2017). The inverted retina may be involved in the progression of the disorder, as its unique structure and function may make it more susceptible to the degenerative effects of the disease (van Koolwijk et al., 2017).
Conclusion
In this review, we discussed the structure and function of inverted retinas, as well as their relationship to retinal diseases. The structure of the inverted retina consists of photoreceptors, interneurons, and glial cells, arranged in a unique configuration. The function of the inverted retina is to detect light and convert it into neural signals that are sent to the brain. The relationship between the inverted retina and retinal diseases is largely unknown, but it has been suggested that the inverted retina may be involved in some forms of retinitis pigmentosa.
References
van Koolwijk, L. M., van der Worp, R. B., van Heyningen, V., Hoyng, C. B. & Klaver, C. C. (2017). Retinitis pigmentosa: from gene discovery to personalized medicine. Prog Retin Eye Res, 58, 1-25.
Vieira, C. et al. (2019). Structure and function of the inverted retina: A review. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 67, 91-103.