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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Cells

Species-Specific Retinal Adaptation to Permanent Darkness in G. charrua and O. latipes

  • Laura Herrera-Astorga1,2,3
  • Stephanie Silva-Jaureguiberry1
  • Inés Berrosteguieta1
  • Juan Carlos Rosillo1,4
  • Risa Suzuki2
  • Gero Hofmann2
  • Gabriela Casanova4
  • Joachim Wittbrodt2
  • Anabel Sonia Fernández1,5
5 affiliations
  1. 1Laboratorio de Neurobiología Comparada, Departamento de Neurociencias Integrativas y Computacionales, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avenida Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
  2. 2Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  3. 3Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School (HBIGS), Im Neuenheimer Feld 501, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  4. 4Unidad de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
  5. 5Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
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Abstract

Sustained neurogenesis underlies retinal regeneration in teleosts, but is largely absent in mammals, making comparative studies of closely related fish species a powerful approach to uncover regulatory mechanisms and evolutionary constraints. Environmental cues are likely key regulators, yet their impact on plasticity and function is poorly understood. We examined the impact of prolonged darkness on retinal cell proliferation and visual performance in two closely related teleosts, the annual fish Garcialebias charrua and Oryzias latipes. EdU/BrdU labeling was used to quantify retinal cell proliferation after defined darkness periods. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were assessed via optomotor response assay. Both species exhibited increased cell proliferation in response to darkness; however, the affected retinal layers and dynamics differed. In G. charrua, proliferation increased in the inner nuclear layer, with decreased visual acuity and higher contrast sensitivity. O. latipes responded to shorter darkness exposure with increased cell proliferation in the outer nuclear layer, decreased acuity and, unlike in annual fish, reduced contrast sensitivity. Our results reveal species-specific recruitment of distinct progenitor/precursor cell populations in the adaptation to changes in the photic environment. Our results highlight the evolutionary relevance of retinal neurogenesis, playing a key role in the adaptation to a changing environment.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{herreraastorga2026speciesspecific,
  title = {{Species-Specific Retinal Adaptation to Permanent Darkness in G. charrua and O. latipes}},
  author = {Laura Herrera-Astorga and Stephanie Silva-Jaureguiberry and Inés Berrosteguieta and Juan Carlos Rosillo and Risa Suzuki and Gero Hofmann and Gabriela Casanova and Joachim Wittbrodt and Anabel Sonia Fernández},
  journal = {Cells},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/cells15201886},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/15/20/1886},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Species-Specific Retinal Adaptation to Permanent Darkness in G. charrua and O. latipes
AU  - Laura Herrera-Astorga
AU  - Stephanie Silva-Jaureguiberry
AU  - Inés Berrosteguieta
AU  - Juan Carlos Rosillo
AU  - Risa Suzuki
AU  - Gero Hofmann
AU  - Gabriela Casanova
AU  - Joachim Wittbrodt
AU  - Anabel Sonia Fernández
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/15
JO  - Cells
DO  - 10.3390/cells15201886
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/15/20/1886
AB  - Sustained neurogenesis underlies retinal regeneration in teleosts, but is largely absent in mammals, making comparative studies of closely related fish species a powerful approach to uncover regulatory mechanisms and evolutionary constraints. Environmental cues are likely key regulators, yet their impact on plasticity and function is poorly understood. We examined the impact of prolonged darkness on retinal cell proliferation and visual performance in two closely related teleosts, the annual fish Garcialebias charrua and Oryzias latipes. EdU/BrdU labeling was used to quantify retinal cell proliferation after defined darkness periods. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were assessed via optomotor response assay. Both species exhibited increased cell proliferation in response to darkness; however, the affected retinal layers and dynamics differed. In G. charrua, proliferation increased in the inner nuclear layer, with decreased visual acuity and higher contrast sensitivity. O. latipes responded to shorter darkness exposure with increased cell proliferation in the outer nuclear layer, decreased acuity and, unlike in annual fish, reduced contrast sensitivity. Our results reveal species-specific recruitment of distinct progenitor/precursor cell populations in the adaptation to changes in the photic environment. Our results highlight the evolutionary relevance of retinal neurogenesis, playing a key role in the adaptation to a changing environment.
SN  - 2073-4409
ER  -