Retinal TrkB receptors regulate neural development in the inner, but not outer, retina.

BDNF signaling through its TrkB receptor plays a pivotal role in activity-dependent refinement of synaptic connectivity of retinal ganglion cells. Additionally, studies using TrkB knockout mice have suggested that BDNF/TrkB signaling is essential for the development of photoreceptors and for synaptic communication between photoreceptors and second order retinal neurons. Thus the action of BDNF on refinement of synaptic connectivity of retinal ganglion cells could be a direct effect in the inner retina, or it could be secondary to its proposed role in rod maturation and in the formation of rod to bipolar cell synaptic transmission.

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy in a patient with graft-versus-host disease.

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism of bilateral central vision loss in a patient with graft-versus-host disease.

Design: Observational case report.

Methods: A 43-year-old man with graft-versus-host disease developed acute painless progressive central vision loss, first in the left eye and then in the right.

Detection of localized retinal dysfunction in a choroideremia carrier.

Purpose: To investigate severe unilateral vision loss in a choroideremia carrier.

Design: Case report.

Methods: Ocular examination, genetic testing, Humphrey visual fields, full-field and multifocal (mf) electroretinogram (ERG) tests were used to study a family with choroideremia.