Control of receptive field size in retinal horizontal cells: Direct modulation of gap junctional conductance and plasticity of photoreceptor synaptic input

AbstractInterplexiform cells are centrifugal neurons in the retina carrying information from the inner to the outer plexiform layers. In teleost fish, interplexiform cells appear to release dopamine in the outer plexiform layer after prolonged darkness that modulates the receptive-field size and light responsiveness of horizontal cells (Mangel & Dowling, 1985; Yang et al., 1988a, b). It has been proposed that interplexiform cells may also release dopamine upon steady illumination because horizontal cells' receptive fields shrink in the light (Shigematsu & Yamada, 1988). Here, we report the shrinkage of the receptive fields of horizontal cells seen in the presence of background illumination is not blocked by dopamine antagonists, indicating that dopamine does not underlie the receptive-field size changes observed during steady illumination. Flickering light, however, does appear to stimulate the release of dopamine from the interplexiform cells, resulting in a marked reduction of horizontal cell receptive-field size. Taken together, experiments on horizontal cells indicate that dopamine is released from interplexiform cells in the teleost retina after prolonged darkness and during flickering light, but that dopamine release from interplexiform cells during steady retinal illumination is minimal.

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Gap-junctional properties of electrically coupled skate horizontal cells in culture

Visual Neuroscience ◽

10.1017/s0952523800003680 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 287-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Haohua Qian ◽

Robert Paul Malchow ◽

Harris Ripps

Keyword(s):

Receptive Field ◽

Lucifer Yellow ◽

Horizontal Cell ◽

Electrical Coupling ◽

Cell Voltage ◽

Horizontal Cells ◽

Electrical Synapse ◽

Cell Coupling ◽

Junctional Conductance ◽

Gap Junctional

AbstractWhole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were used to examine the unusual pharmacological properties of the electrical coupling between rod-driven horizontal cells in skate retina as revealed previously by receptive-field measurements (Qian & Ripps, 1992). The junctional resistance was measured in electrically coupled cell pairs that had been enzymatically isolated and maintained in culture; the typical value was about 19.92 MΩ(n = 45), more than an order of magnitude lower than the nonjunctional membrane resistance. These data and the intercellular spread of the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow provide a good indication that skate horizontal cells are well coupled. The junctional conductance between cells was not modulated by the neurotransmitters dopamine (200 μM) or GABA (1 mM), nor was it affected by the membrane-permeable analogues of cAMP or cGMP, or the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin. Although resistant to agents that have been reported to alter horizontal-cell coupling in cone-driven horizontal cells, the junctional conductance between paired horizontal cells of skate was greatly reduced by the application of 20 mM acetate, which is known to effectively reduce intracellular pH. Together with the results obtained in situ on the receptive-field properties of skate horizontal cells, these findings indicate that the gap-junctional properties of rod-driven horizontal cells of the skate are fundamentally different from those of cone-driven horizontal cells in other species. This raises the possibility that there is more than one class of electrical synapse on vertebrate horizontal cells.

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The light-induced reduction of horizontal cell receptive field size in the goldfish retina involves nitric oxide

Visual Neuroscience ◽

10.1017/s0952523810000490 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 137-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

BRYAN A. DANIELS ◽

WILLIAM H. BALDRIDGE

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Receptive Field ◽

Horizontal Cell ◽

Receptive Fields ◽

Horizontal Cells ◽

Field Size ◽

Nitric Oxide Donor ◽

Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitor ◽

Receptive Field Size ◽

Goldfish Retina

AbstractHorizontal cells of the vertebrate retina have large receptive fields as a result of extensive gap junction coupling. Increased ambient illumination reduces horizontal cell receptive field size. Using the isolated goldfish retina, we have assessed the contribution of nitric oxide to the light-dependent reduction of horizontal cell receptive field size. Horizontal cell receptive field size was assessed by comparing the responses to centered spot and annulus stimuli and from the responses to translated slit stimuli. A period of steady illumination decreased the receptive field size of horizontal cells, as did treatment with the nitric oxide donor (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (100μM). Blocking the endogenous production of nitric oxide with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (1 mM), decreased the light-induced reduction of horizontal cell receptive field size. These findings suggest that nitric oxide is involved in light-induced reduction of horizontal cell receptive field size.

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Simulation analysis of receptive-field size of retinal horizontal cells by ionic current model

Visual Neuroscience ◽

10.1017/s0952523805221107 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 65-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

TOSHIHIRO AOYAMA ◽

YOSHIMI KAMIYAMA ◽

SHIRO USUI

Keyword(s):

Receptive Field ◽

Light Adaptation ◽

Cell Model ◽

Horizontal Cell ◽

Ionic Current ◽

Horizontal Cells ◽

Field Size ◽

Membrane Properties ◽

Dark Light ◽

Receptive Field Size

The size of the receptive field of retinal horizontal cells changes with the state of dark/light adaptation. We have used a mathematical model to determine how changes in the membrane conductance affect the receptive-field properties of horizontal cells. We first modeled the nonlinear membrane properties of horizontal cells based on ionic current mechanisms. The dissociated horizontal cell model reproduced the voltage–current (V–I) relationships for various extracellular glutamate concentrations measured in electrophysiological studies. Second, a network horizontal cell model was also described, and it reproduced theV–Irelationship observedin vivo. The network model showed a bell-shaped relationship between the receptive-field size and constant glutamate concentration. The simulated results suggest that the calcium current is a candidate for the bell-shaped length constant relationship.

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