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ipRGCs

Meaning

An abbreviation for intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells, which are specialized, non-rod, non-cone photoreceptors located in the retina of the eye. These cells contain the photopigment melanopsin and are primarily responsible for non-visual light perception, serving as the crucial biological conduit for transmitting environmental light information to the brain’s master clock. They are the primary biological mechanism linking environmental light exposure to the regulation of the circadian rhythm and subsequent hormonal secretion.