Melanopsin Retinal Ganglion Cells in Retinal Degeneration

Changes in light-sensitive RGC circuits with retinal degenerations
Intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs , or melanopsin GCs) sense light on their own, without photoreceptor input.  How do the retinal circuits involving ipRGCs change as photoreceptors degenerate?  Can these be linked to behavioral changes in detection of overall light levels? We use a combination of in vivo behavioral and physiological assays and in vitro multielectrode recording to dissect the normal function of this irradiance detection system and to determine how it is disrupted in various retinal diseases.