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Neuroimmune Pharmacology pp 55–68Cite as

The Vertebrate Retina

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Abstract

The retina is an outpost of the central nervous system (CNS) with neuronal structures and proteins specialized for the transduction of light signals into a neural code that the brain can interpret. Mutations of proteins involved in phototransduction or synaptic transmission through the retina produce visual deficits ranging from subtle color vision defects to complete blindness. Although normally isolated from blood-mediated immune responses by the blood-retinal barrier, inflammatory responses, including gliosis and those mediated by the complement system, are important contributors to retinal degeneration, particularly age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Studying immune responses in the retina and their pharmacological manipulation therefore presents a promising avenue for the treatment and prevention of retinal degeneration.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985840 NE Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA

    Wallace B. Thoreson

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  1. Wallace B. Thoreson
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Correspondence to Wallace B. Thoreson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Tsuneya Ikezu

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    Howard E. Gendelman

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Thoreson, W.B. (2017). The Vertebrate Retina. In: Ikezu, T., Gendelman, H. (eds) Neuroimmune Pharmacology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44022-4_5

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