A protocol for isolation and culturing of mouse primary postmitotic photoreceptors and isolation of extracellular vesicles.

Here, we present a protocol for isolating and culturing mouse photoreceptors in a minimal, chemically defined medium free from serum. We describe steps for retina dissection, enzymatic dissociation, photoreceptor enrichment, cell culture, extracellular vesicles (EVs) enrichment, and EV ultrastructural analysis. This protocol, which has been verified for cultured cells derived from multiple murine strains, allows for the study of several aspects of photoreceptor biology, including EV isolation and nanotube formation.

Antioxidant and lipid supplementation improve the development of photoreceptor outer segments in pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids.

The generation of retinal organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) is now a well-established process that in part recapitulates retinal development. However, hPSC-derived photoreceptors that exhibit well-organized outer segment structures have yet to be observed. To facilitate improved inherited retinal disease modeling, we determined conditions that would support outer segment development in maturing hPSC-derived photoreceptors.

Monitoring eating and activity: Links with disordered eating, compulsive exercise, and general wellbeing among young adults.

Objective: To explore the relationships between the use of food intake and activity monitoring tools with compulsive exercise, eating psychopathology, and psychological wellbeing.

Method: Participants (N = 352; mean age 21.90 years) indicated their use of activity and food intake monitoring tools, and completed the Compulsive Exercise Test (CET), Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).