Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation
Abstract Crosstalk mechanisms between retinas were never documented in humans despite being documented for several other species, including non-human primates. Results of the first-in-human study that documents the crosstalk between retinas by measuring the vascular response in one retina to the pho...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| author | João Jordão João Figueira Miguel Morgado Pedro Guimarães Pedro Serranho Daniela Castro-Farías Delia Cabrera DeBuc Miguel Castelo-Branco Michel Paques Rui Bernardes |
| author_facet | João Jordão João Figueira Miguel Morgado Pedro Guimarães Pedro Serranho Daniela Castro-Farías Delia Cabrera DeBuc Miguel Castelo-Branco Michel Paques Rui Bernardes |
| author_sort | João Jordão |
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| description | Abstract Crosstalk mechanisms between retinas were never documented in humans despite being documented for several other species, including non-human primates. Results of the first-in-human study that documents the crosstalk between retinas by measuring the vascular response in one retina to the photic stimulation of the contralateral eye in health and disease are reported herein. A stimulation apparatus was developed and integrated into an adaptive-optics fundus camera to image 32 healthy control (HC) subjects and 20 type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Ipsilateral and contralateral neurovascular coupling effects were documented, and criteria were established to consider an actual response and find positive and negative responses. Ten (31.2%) and two (6.2%) subjects of the HC group presented contralateral positive and negative responses, respectively, and three (15.0%) positive and four (20.0%) negative responses were found for the DM group. Also, statistically significant differences in the ipsilateral (p < 0.001) and contralateral (p = 0.027) responses were found for the HC group, rejecting the null (non-response) hypothesis. This finding raises the need to revisit the current knowledge of neurovascular coupling mechanisms and the association between its dysregulation and neurological disorders. Further studies involving distinct populations and imaging centers are necessary to validate the findings herein. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-f52be2b3893b4e0faacf6e2d341c297b2025-08-20T02:10:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-98631-7Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulationJoão Jordão0João Figueira1Miguel Morgado2Pedro Guimarães3Pedro Serranho4Daniela Castro-Farías5Delia Cabrera DeBuc6Miguel Castelo-Branco7Michel Paques8Rui Bernardes9University of Coimbra, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT)University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical and Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC)University of Coimbra, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT)University of Coimbra, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT)University of Coimbra, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT)Centre Hospitalier National des Quinze-Vingts, Paris Eye ImagingBascom Palmer Eye Institute, University Miami Miller School of MedicineUniversity of Coimbra, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT)Centre Hospitalier National des Quinze-Vingts, Paris Eye ImagingUniversity of Coimbra, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT)Abstract Crosstalk mechanisms between retinas were never documented in humans despite being documented for several other species, including non-human primates. Results of the first-in-human study that documents the crosstalk between retinas by measuring the vascular response in one retina to the photic stimulation of the contralateral eye in health and disease are reported herein. A stimulation apparatus was developed and integrated into an adaptive-optics fundus camera to image 32 healthy control (HC) subjects and 20 type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Ipsilateral and contralateral neurovascular coupling effects were documented, and criteria were established to consider an actual response and find positive and negative responses. Ten (31.2%) and two (6.2%) subjects of the HC group presented contralateral positive and negative responses, respectively, and three (15.0%) positive and four (20.0%) negative responses were found for the DM group. Also, statistically significant differences in the ipsilateral (p < 0.001) and contralateral (p = 0.027) responses were found for the HC group, rejecting the null (non-response) hypothesis. This finding raises the need to revisit the current knowledge of neurovascular coupling mechanisms and the association between its dysregulation and neurological disorders. Further studies involving distinct populations and imaging centers are necessary to validate the findings herein.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98631-7Neurovascular couplingCirculationCentral nervous systemRetinaFunctional imagingFlicker-induced hyperemia |
| spellingShingle | João Jordão João Figueira Miguel Morgado Pedro Guimarães Pedro Serranho Daniela Castro-Farías Delia Cabrera DeBuc Miguel Castelo-Branco Michel Paques Rui Bernardes Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation Scientific Reports Neurovascular coupling Circulation Central nervous system Retina Functional imaging Flicker-induced hyperemia |
| title | Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation |
| title_full | Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation |
| title_fullStr | Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation |
| title_short | Direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation |
| title_sort | direct crosstalk between adult human retinas as suggested by interocular transfer of neurovascular coupling through photic stimulation |
| topic | Neurovascular coupling Circulation Central nervous system Retina Functional imaging Flicker-induced hyperemia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98631-7 |
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