Search bioRxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.01.21.634046

GAL-101 prevents amyloid beta-induced membrane depolarization in two different types of retinal cells

Pizzi, E.·Gornati, S.·Stabilini, S.·Brambilla, D.·Mercurio, C. A.·Russ, H.·Parsons, C. A.·Mazzanti, M.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are two of the major causes of progressive vision loss and ultimately blindness worldwide. Both retinopathies share several pathological features with Alzheimers disease (AD) such as: impairment of neuronal function, astrocytosis, and activation of immune-competent microglia and Muller cells. It also has been shown that these conditions are characterized by the presence of an elevated concentration of amyloid beta (A{beta}). Under pathological conditions, A{beta}1-42 tends to aggregate, forming toxic soluble oligomers, considered to be the most harmful amyloid species. One strategy adopted to prevent cell damage caused by these oligomers is to impair their aggregation. Here we studied GAL-101, a small molecule designed to modify the aggregation of A{beta}1-42. To assess the role of GAL-101 in the aggregation of A{beta}1-42, in vitro electrophysiological measurements on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were performed to determine the polarization of the resting membrane potential. Cells treated only with A{beta}1-42 oligomers showed a strong depolarization of the resting membrane potential, which is believed to be the main reason for retinal cells malfunctioning in neurodegenerative diseases of the eye. Pre-incubation with GAL-101 stabilized the cell resting potential to around -50mV during exposure to A{beta}1-42, in both RGCs and RPE cells. GAL-101 was able to prevent changes in resting membrane potential and thus would be expected to prevent impairment of retinal cell function. These results are supportive of evaluating GAL-101 as a potential treatment of A{beta}-associated retinopathies like glaucoma and dry AMD.

Explore related subjects

neurosciencePreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Pizzi, E., Gornati, S., Stabilini, S., Brambilla, D., Mercurio, C. A., Russ, H., Parsons, C. A., Mazzanti, M.. 2025-01-21. GAL-101 prevents amyloid beta-induced membrane depolarization in two different types of retinal cells. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.21.634046

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

A Mechanistic Account of Dedifferentiation in the Aging Visual System

To uncover the mechanisms of age-related dedifferentiation, we simulated neural degradation in a computational model of the ventral visual stream. Severing connections or adding noise, whether in inferotemporal cortex (IT) or upstream, reduced IT differentiation, indicating that dedifferentiation need not originate locally. Degrading peripheral V1, which preferentially drove place-selective IT neurons, selectively reduced place differentiation, a candidate mechanism for the stronger place dedifferentiation reported in aging.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2026

Reusing pipettes in Patch-seq: a foundation for automated multimodal profiling

Patch-seq is a technique for single-cell multimodal characterization. It combines whole-cell electrophysiology, single-cell transcriptomics, and morphological reconstruction in single neurons. Patch-seq morphologies are a critical bridge among cell types, genes, physiology, and large-scale connectivity platforms such as EM connectomes and single-cell-resolution projectomes. However, patch-seq experimental complexity and operator dependence limit throughput. Automation could enable scalable Patch-seq but requires procedural adaptations, including detergent-based pipette cleaning, robotic nucleus extraction and collection. The impact of these automations on Patch-seq quality has not been systematically evaluated. Here, we show that each of these modifications preserves or improves key Patch-seq outcomes. Automated nucleus extraction performs comparably to, or better than, expert manual operation, preserving key RNA and morphological metrics. Detergent-cleaned, reused pipettes supported a viable sealing success rate across multiple cleaning cycles and preserved electrophysiological quality and transcriptomic yield without introducing excess contamination. Sonication effectively allows collection of nuclear material without damaging RNA and supports subsequent pipette cleaning and reuse. Enhanced automated sealing and break-in procedures increased throughput regardless of brain region, cell type or species. Together, these results validate the core procedural adaptations required for automated Patch-seq and establish a foundation for high-throughput, standardized multimodal single-cell characterization.

neuroscience↗
bioRxiv2026

Development of direction selectivity in the Xenopus tadpole optic tectum and midbrain tegmentum

Detecting motion direction is a fundamental function performed by direction selective (DS) neurons. DS neurons in the optic tectum (superior colliculus in mammals) enable the tracking of moving objects. DS neurons of the accessory optic system support reflexive eye / head movements that stabilize gaze during self-motion. By developmental stage 48 (10 days postfertilization), Xenopus tadpoles display visually guided behaviors that require both types of DS neurons. Our previous work has shown that these two regions are not only functionally distinct but also follow different developmental programs. Here we characterized and compared how direction selectivity develops in both visual processing centers. Using in vivo electrophysiological recordings during moving bar visual stimulation, we measured DS synaptic inputs and spiking outputs in both regions across three key developmental stages of the retinotectal projection. Tegmental neurons were direction selective ab initio, and both input and output tuning remained stable across development. Tectal neurons were observed to receive DS inputs early, and their input selectivity also remained stable across development. However, their spiking output grew substantially more DS at the later developmental stage. This was due at least in part to a naturally occurring decrease in intrinsic excitability which preferentially dampened overall spike rates, but especially in response to the non-preferred direction of motion, thereby increasing direction selectivity. These results reveal distinct developmental trajectories in parallel visual pathways. Tegmental direction selectivity is established early and stays stable, whereas tectal output tuning sharpens during development through a decrease in intrinsic excitability.

neuroscience↗