Molecular identification of wide-field amacrine cells in mouse retina that encode stimulus orientation

Bhlhe22 and Kappa Opioid Receptor-expressing wide-field amacrine cells in mouse retina encode stimulus orientation with Ca2+ signals aligned to dendritic structure.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular and functional diversity of amacrine cells is crucial for decoding visual information processing, yet most cell types remain poorly characterized.
• What they did: Researchers used an intersectional genetic approach to target Bhlhe22 and KOR-expressing WACs, employing two-photon imaging to analyze Ca2+ responses and dendritic orientation in mouse retina.
• The result: Findings demonstrate that B/K WACs have orientation-tuned Ca2+ signals aligned with dendritic structure, establishing their role in encoding stimulus orientation and revealing complex retinal connectivity.