Morphometric analysis of retinal ganglionic cells (3D confocal images) analyzed using filament tracer from Imaris software

This dataset contains high-resolution 3D confocal microscopy images of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from the retina of mole-rat models Fukomys mechowii and Fukomys anselli. The raw images were originally obtained as .tif files and later converted into. ims format for use with Imaris Software. The Imaris filament tracer extension was used to trace the dendritic structures of RGCs, while the soma surfaces were traced separately. These post-processed images are part of a study aimed at understanding the morphometric properties of RGCs in these mole-rat species and classifying them into different clusters based on their structural characteristics.

Methods
The isolated retinas of mole-rat models Fukomys mechowii and Fukomys anselli were spread flat with the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer facing up in a Petri dish with phosphate buffer at room temperature and held by a Millipore filter. Using an epifluorescence microscope, pre-labeled ganglion cells were impaled with a micropipette containing a 5% Lucifer Yellow solution, which was iontophoretically injected for several minutes. Up to 30 cells were stained in each retina. Afterward, the retina was mounted on a slide with glycerol and potassium iodide and imaged with a Leica confocal microscope. High-resolution 3D images of the RGCs were captured, and the full dendritic tree was traced using Imaris software's filament tracer tool.