Our tissue culture data thus not only confirm the direct involvement of loss-of-function of PGC-1α on apoptosis in the ONL in vivo, but together with the observation of reduced PGC-1α and PGC-1β expression in mouse models for retinitis pigmentosa also indicate that elevation of PGC-1α might be a valid approach to prevent retinal damage and also promote recovery in retinal diseases through increase in ATP generation. Here, PPARGC1A is linked to retinitis pigmentosa.