Retinoic Acid Induces Hyperactivity, and Blocking Its Receptor Unmasks Light Responses and Augments Vision in Retinal Degeneration (Neuron)

Photoreceptor degeneration causes blindness, but hyperactivity of downstream neurons may obscure retinal signaling to the brain before all photoreceptors die. Here we identify the chemical trigger of hyperactivity and show that blocking its receptor augments light responses in vision-impaired mice.