Evidence for endogenous exchange of cytoplasmic material between a subset of cone and rod photoreceptors within the adult mammalian retina via direct cell-cell connections

Photoreceptor cell transplantation into the mouse retina has been shown to result in the transfer of cytoplasmic material between donor and host photoreceptors. Recently it has been found that this inter-photoreceptor ma-terial transfer process is likely to be mediated by nanotube-like structures connecting donor and host photore-ceptors. By leveraging cone-specific reporter mice and super-resolution microscopy we provide evidence for the transfer of cytoplasmic material also from endogenous cones to endogenous rod photoreceptors and the existence of nanotube-like cell-cell connections possibly mediating this process in the adult mouse retina, together with preliminary data indicating that horizontal material transfer may also occur in the human retina.

Automated summary

Transplantation of photoreceptor cells in mouse retina can lead to cytoplasmic material transfer mediated by nanotube-like structures. Evidence suggests that this transfer process also occurs between endogenous cones and endogenous rods in the mouse retina, with preliminary data indicating similar material transfer in the human retina.