A Method for the Combined Functional Assessment of Photoreceptors and Ganglion Cells in Acute Retinal Explants

Significant progress has been made in studying the individual steps of retinal signaling, yet a comprehensive understanding of the functional interplay between photoreceptors, as input cells, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), as output cells, remains elusive. This connection is crucial to fully unravel the retina’s computational capabilities and its role in visual processing. To address this gap, this study introduces a novel technique that combines two-photon (2P) autofluorescence microscopy with multi-electrode array (MEA) recordings, enabling simultaneous testing of photoreceptor and RGC function. Unlike traditional methods that target isolated cell classes or structural analysis, this integrated technique provides the basis to investigate input-output relationships within the retinal neural network, offering a deeper understanding of its dynamic activity and adaptability to cellular dropout.