Melanopsin containing retinal ganglion cells are light responsive from birth

Abstract

Photoentrainment of the biological clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) begins shortly after birth. Here we show using c-FOS immunoreactivity as a marker for neuronal activity that the melanopsin/PACAP containing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) which project to the SCN as the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) are responsive to light from birth. After postnatal day 12 where the classical photoreceptors become functional other RGCs and cells of the inner nuclear cell layer also respond to light. Light also induces c-FOS immunoreactivity in the retinorecipient SCN from the first postnatal day and accordingly PACAP immunoreactive fibres are visible in the SCN. The results indicate that the retina is light responsive before functional rods and cones and that the RHT is functional from birth supporting that photoentrainment of the biological clock begins shortly after birth.