Retinoic acid signaling mediates peripheral cone photoreceptor survival in a mouse model of retina degeneration

Cone photoreceptors in retina degeneration mouse models degenerate from the center to the periphery. However, the far peripheral cones survive long-term. We found that retinoic acid signaling is both necessary and sufficient for cone survival. Bulk RNA-seq of CAR+ cones and Muller glia was performed on P30 central and peripheral retinas. Briefly, the central one-third and peripheral one-third retinal tissues were dissected out from 3 mice. The tissue was dissociated into single cells and labeled with anti-CAR antibody. The CAR+ central and peripheral cells were FACS-isolated, and the RNA was extracted.