Dendritic and Axonal Protection: Is It Enough to Protect the Retinal Ganglion Cell Body?

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are highly polarized neurons with a cell body, complex dendritic arbors and a long axon responsible for the transmission of information from the eye to visual centres in the brain. In spite of this complex cytoarchitecture, most studies on neuroprotection have focused on morphological and quantitative analysis of cell soma. Dendritic and axonal processes, however, play a fundamental role in the overall integration and activity of RGCs in response to visual stimulation, Therefore, truly effective neuroprotective strategies would ideally preserve the structure and function of all RGC compartments.