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Although this may look like some form of coral, it is actually a "directionally sensitive ganglion cell" from a rabbit. You'll recall that ganglion cells are one of three major types of neural cells that make up the retina. However, if one looks at things a bit closer, there are actually five types of retinal neurons and some 50 subtypes that allow the retina to function and you and I to read this page. Directionally sensitive cells, which are designed to register light from specific directions, are just one of these cell subtypes.

With all of these different tiny body parts accomplishing differing tasks, medical researchers have been faced with the daunting task of discovering ways in which they can learn what each cell subtype accomplishes--no easy feat! This photo represents a sample of what one of the techniques can accomplish. The procedure involves injecting a fluorescent Lucifer Yellow CH dye into a cell. This dye accumulates selectively in specific cell neurons. The result is that parts of the cell light up against a dark background allowing scientists to get a clearer understanding of exactly how the cell works.

For much more information about the function of different retinal cells and the techniques used to reveal them, check out The Functional Architecture of the Retina. Richard H. Masland, Scientific American Science's Vision: The Mechanics of Sight, 1998, pp. 4-13.

Image taken by Richard Masland and Shigang He. Courtesy Masland Lab, Harvard University.


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			Seeing below the surface Although this may look like some form of coral, it is actually a "directionally sensitive ganglion cell" from a rabbit. You'll recall that ganglion cells are one of three major types of neural cells that make up the retina. However, if one looks at things a bit closer, there are actually five types of retinal neurons and some 50 subtypes that allow the retina to function and you and I to read this page. Directionally sensitive cells, which are designed to register light from specific directions, are just one of these cell subtypes. With all of these different tiny body parts accomplishing differing tasks, medical researchers have been faced with the daunting task of discovering ways in which they can learn what each cell subtype accomplishes--no easy feat! This photo represents a sample of what one of the techniques can accomplish. The procedure involves injecting a fluorescent Lucifer Yellow CH dye into a cell. This dye accumulates selectively in specific cell neurons. The result is that parts of the cell light up against a dark background allowing scientists to get a clearer understanding of exactly how the cell works. For much more information about the function of different retinal cells and the techniques used to reveal them, check out The Functional Architecture of the Retina. Richard H. Masland, Scientific American Science's Vision: The Mechanics of Sight, 1998, pp. 4-13. Image taken by Richard Masland and Shigang He. Courtesy Masland Lab, Harvard University.