Synaptic inputs and morphology of sustained ON-ganglion cells in the mudpuppy retina

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 1143-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Arkin ◽  
R. F. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Extracellular Recording ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Light Response ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Synaptic Inputs ◽  
Similar Class ◽  
Hrp Transport

1. Sustained ON-ganglion cells from the mudpuppy retina were studied with a combined approach, including intracellular and extracellular recording from the superfused retina-eyecup preparation, pharmacology with bath-applied 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB), and retrograde and intracellular staining using horse radish peroxidase (HRP). 2. Bath application of micromolar levels of APB selectively blocks the light response of ON-bipolar cells; APB was used to separate synaptic inputs into those which originate from ON- vs. OFF-bipolar cells. This approach clearly demonstrates that the light response of the vast majority of sustained ON-ganglion cells is primarily the result of sustained excitatory inputs that arise (directly or indirectly) from ON-bipolar cells. 3. APB revealed the presence of transient excitatory OFF-inputs in many sustained ON-ganglion cells that are normally not evident. 4. Five sustained ON-ganglion cells were intracellularly stained with HRP and their morphology was analyzed with the aid of a computer-assisted neuron reconstruction system. The stained cells are anatomically similar, based on quantitative analysis of a number of morphological parameters. The dendritic trees of all five cells are primarily confined to sublamina b of the inner plexiform layer, although some cells have a small number of processes that ramify in sublamina a. These latter processes may relate to the transient excitatory OFF-inputs revealed with APB application. 5. Ganglion cells which are morphologically similar to the stained, intracellularly sustained ON-ganglion cells were found in a collection of Golgi-like cells that were labeled by retrograde HRP transport. This raises the possibility that sustained ON-ganglion cells in the mudpuppy may constitute a morphologically identifiable class of retinal ganglion cells in this species. There is also some suggestion that a morphologically similar class of OFF-cells may be present.

The number and distribution of bipolar to ganglion cell synapses in the inner plexiform layer of the anuran retina

1996 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1099-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Buzás ◽  
Sára Jeges ◽  
Robert Gábriel
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Flow Through

AbstractThe main route of information flow through the vertebrate retina is from the photoreceptors towards the ganglion cells whose axons form the optic nerve. Bipolar cells of the frog have been so far reported to contact mostly amacrine cells and the majority of input to ganglion cells comes from the amacrines. In this study, ganglion cells of frogs from two species (Bufo marinus, Xenopus laevis) were filled retrogradely with horseradish peroxidase. After visualization of the tracer, light-microscopic cross sections showed massive labeling of the somata in the ganglion cell layer as well as their dendrites in the inner plexiform layer. In cross sections, bipolar output and ganglion cell input synapses were counted in the electron microscope. Each synapse was assigned to one of the five equal sublayers (SLs) of the inner plexiform layer. In both species, bipolar cells were most often seen to form their characteristic synaptic dyads with two amacrine cells. In some cases, however, the dyads were directed to one amacrine and one ganglion cell dendrite. This type of synapse was unevenly distributed within the inner plexiform layer with the highest occurrence in SL2 both in Bufo and Xenopus. In addition, SL4 contained also a high number of this type of synapse in Xenopus. In both species, we found no or few bipolar to ganglion cell synapses in the marginal sublayers (SLs 1 and 5). In Xenopus, 22% of the bipolar cell output synapses went onto ganglion cells, whereas in Bufo this was only 10%. We conclude that direct bipolar to ganglion cell information transfer exists also in frogs although its occurrence is not as obvious and regular as in mammals. The characteristic distribution of these synapses, however, suggests that specific type of the bipolar and ganglion cells participate in this process. These contacts may play a role in the formation of simple ganglion cell receptive fields.

Glycine receptor immunoreactivity is localized at amacrine synapses in cat retina

1991 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 611-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta G. Pourcho ◽  
Michael T. Owczarzak
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Glycine Receptor ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Electron Microscopic Level ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Glycine Receptors ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Cat Retina

AbstractImmunocytochemical techniques were used to localize strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in cat retina. Light microscopy showed staining in processes ramifying throughout the inner plexiform layer and in cell bodies of both amacrine and ganglion cells. At the electron-microscopic level, receptor immunoreactivity was seen to be clustered at sites postsynaptic to amacrine cells. In contrast, bipolar cells were neither presynaptic nor postsynaptic elements at sites of glycine receptor staining. Double-label studies verified the presence of glycine immunoreactivity in amacrine terminals presynaptic to glycine receptors. These findings support a role for glycine as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in amacrine cells.

Synaptic inputs to retrogradely labeled ganglion cells in the retina of the cane toad, Bufo marinus

1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1089-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao-Song Zhu ◽  
Ian L. Gibbins
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Amacrine Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Bufo Marinus ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Synaptic Inputs ◽  
Biotinylated Dextran

AbstractThe entire population of ganglion cells in the retina of the toad Bufo marinus was labeled by retrograde transport of a lysine-fixable biotinylated dextran amine of 3000 molecular weight. Synaptic connections between bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells in the inner plexiform layer were quantitatively analyzed, with emphasis on synaptic inputs to labeled ganglion cell dendrites. Synapses onto ganglion cell dendrites comprised 47% of a total of 1234 identified synapses in the inner plexiform layer. Approximately half of the bipolar or amacrine cell synapses were directed onto ganglion cell dendrites, while the rest were made mainly onto amacrine cell dendrites. Most of the synaptic inputs to ganglion cell dendrites derived from amacrine cell dendrites (84%), with the rest from bipolar cell terminals. Synaptic inputs to ganglion cell dendrites were distributed relatively uniformly throughout all sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer. The present study provides unambiguous identification of ganglion cell dendrites including very fine processes, enabling a detailed analysis of the types and distribution of synaptic inputs from the bipolar and amacrine cell to the ganglion cells. The retrograde tracing technique used in the present study will prove to be a useful tool for identifying synaptic inputs to ganglion cell dendrites from neurochemically identified bipolar and amacrine cell types in the retina.

scholarly journals Heterocellular coupling between amacrine cell and ganglion cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Marc ◽  
Crystal Sigulinsky ◽  
Rebecca L. Pfeiffer ◽  
Daniel Emrich ◽  
James R. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gap Junctions ◽  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Bipolar Cell ◽  
Amacrine Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Tem Analysis

AbstractAll superclasses of retinal neurons display some form of electrical coupling including the key neurons of the inner plexiform layer: bipolar cells (BCs), amacrine or axonal cells (ACs) and ganglion cells (GCs). However, coupling varies extensively by class. For example, mammalian rod bipolar cells form no gap junctions at all, while all cone bipolar cells form class-specific coupling arrays, many of them homocellular in-superclass arrays. Ganglion cells are unique in that classes with coupling predominantly form heterocellular cross-class arrays of ganglion cell::amacrine cell (GC::AC) coupling in the mammalian retina. Ganglion cells are the least frequent superclass in the inner plexiform layer and GC::AC gap junctions are sparsely arrayed amidst massive cohorts of AC::AC, bipolar cell BC::BC, and AC::BC gap junctions. Many of these gap junctions and most ganglion cell gap junctions are suboptical, complicating analysis of specific ganglion cells. High resolution 2 nm TEM analysis of rabbit retinal connectome RC1 allows quantitative GC::AC coupling maps of identified ganglion cells. Ganglion cells classes apparently avoid direct cross-class homocellular coupling altogether even though they have opportunities via direct membrane touches, while transient OFF alpha ganglion cells and transient ON directionally selective (DS) ganglion cells are strongly coupled to distinct amacrine / axonal cell cohorts.A key feature of coupled ganglion cells is intercellular metabolite flux. Most GC::AC coupling involves GABAergic cells (γ+ amacrine cells), which results in significant GABA flux into ganglion cells. Surveying GABA coupling signatures in the ganglion cell layer across species suggests that the majority of vertebrate retinas engage in GC::AC coupling.Multi-hop synaptic queries of the entire RC1 connectome clearly profiles the coupled amacrine and axonal cells. Photic drive polarities and source bipolar cell class selec-tivities are tightly matched across coupled cells. OFF alpha ganglion cells are coupled to OFF γ+ amacrine cells and transient ON DS ganglion cells are coupled to ON γ+ amacrine cells including a large interstitial axonal cell (IAC). Synaptic tabulations show close matches between the classes of bipolar cells sampled by the coupled amacrine and ganglion cells. Further, both ON and OFF coupling ganglion networks show a common theme: synaptic asymmetry whereby the coupled γ+ neurons are also presynaptic to ganglion cell dendrites from different classes of ganglion cells outside the coupled set. In effect, these heterocellular coupling patterns enable an excited ganglion cell to directly inhibit nearby ganglion cells of different classes. Similarly, coupled γ+ amacrine cells engaged in feedback networks can leverage the additional gain of bipolar cell synapses in shaping the signaling of a spectrum of downstream targets based on their own selective coupling with ganglion cells.

Glutamate-, GABA-, and GAD-immunoreactivities co-localize in bipolar cells of tiger salamander retina

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1193-1203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen-Yu Yang ◽  
Stephen Yazulla
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Inner Nuclear Layer ◽  
Horizontal Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Immunocytochemical Method ◽  
Separate Population

AbstractThe presence of inhibitory bipolar cells in salamander retina was investigated by a comparative analysis of the distribution of glutamate- and GABA-immunoreactivities (GLU-IR; GABA-IR) using a postembedding immunocytochemical method. GLU-IR was found in virtually all photoreceptors, bipolar cells and ganglion cells, neuronal elements that transfer information vertically through the retina. GLU-IR also was found in numerous amacrine cells in the mid and proximal inner nuclear layer as well as in the cytoplasm of horizontal cells, while the nucleus of horizontal cells was either lightly labeled or not labeled at all. GLU-IR was found in the outer plexiform layer and intensely in the inner plexiform layer, in which there was no apparent sublamination. Forty-seven percent of Type IB bipolar cells in the distal inner nuclear layer and 13% of the displaced bipolar cells were GABA-IR. All bipolar cells were also GLU-IR, indicating that GABA-IR bipolar cells were a subset of GLU-IR bipolar cells rather than a separate population. About 12% of the Type IB bipolar cells were moderately GABA-IR and likely comprised a GABAergic subtype. GLU-IR levels in the presumed GABAergic bipolar cells were higher than in other purely GLU-IR bipolar cells suggesting that these GABA-IR bipolar cells are glutamatergic as well. All of the displaced bipolar cells were only lightly GABA-IR, indicating that displaced bipolar cells comprise a more homogeneous class of glutamatergic cell than orthotopic bipolar cells. GAD-IR co-localized with GABA-IR in orthotopic but not displaced bipolar cells, further supporting the idea that some orthotopic bipolar cells are GABAergic. A small proportion of bipolar cells in salamander retina contain relatively high levels of both GABA and glutamate. Co-release of these substances by bipolar cells could contribute to the “push-pull” modulation of ganglion cell responses.

scholarly journals Strip1 regulates retinal ganglion cell survival by suppressing Jun-mediated apoptosis to promote retinal neural circuit formation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai Ahmed ◽  
Yutaka Kojima ◽  
Ichiro Masai
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Retina Development ◽  
Circuit Formation

In the vertebrate retina, an interplay between retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), amacrine and bipolar cells establishes a synaptic layer called the inner plexiform layer (IPL). This circuit conveys signals from photoreceptors to visual centers in the brain. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in its development remain poorly understood. Striatin-interacting protein 1 (Strip1) is a core component of the STRIPAK complex, and it has shown emerging roles in embryonic morphogenesis. Here, we uncover the importance of Strip1 in inner retina development. Using zebrafish, we show that loss of Strip1 causes defects in IPL formation. In strip1 mutants, RGCs undergo dramatic cell death shortly after birth. Amacrine and bipolar cells subsequently invade the degenerating RGC layer, leading to a disorganized IPL. Thus, Strip1 promotes IPL formation through RGC maintenance. Mechanistically, zebrafish Strip1 interacts with its STRIPAK partner, Striatin3, to promote RGC survival by suppressing Jun-mediated apoptosis. In addition to its function in RGC maintenance, Strip1 is required for RGC dendritic patterning, which likely contributes to proper IPL formation. Taken together, we propose that a series of Strip1-mediated regulatory events coordinates inner retinal circuit formation by maintaining RGCs during development, which ensures proper positioning and neurite patterning of inner retinal neurons.

The Simulation of Retinal Inner Plexiform Layer Based on Parallel Algorithm

2013 ◽  
Vol 680 ◽  
pp. 509-514
Author(s):  
Zhi Long Wu ◽  
Zhi Jie Wang
Keyword(s):  
Parallel Algorithm ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Processing Unit ◽  
Compute Unified Device Architecture ◽  
Device Architecture ◽  
Retinal Structure ◽  
Speed And Accuracy

The final objective of retinal simulation is to construct an artificial computer retina to replace the biological retina, and to offset the vision-impaired people. Due to the complexity of the retinal structure and the great number of bipolar cells and ganglion cells in retinal (exceeding tens of millions), both the speed and accuracy of the simulation of the retinal up to date are at a low level. In this paper we present a method for the simulation of inner plexiform layer of retina based on Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) parallel algorithm to achieve the maximum utilization of CPU and Graphic Processing Unit(GPU), and to improve the speed and accuracy of the retina simulation.

Co-stratification of GABAA receptors with the directionally selective circuitry of the rat retina

1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Brandstätter ◽  
U. Greferath ◽  
T. Euler ◽  
H. Wässle
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Double Labelling ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Axon Terminals ◽  
Mammalian Retina ◽  
Cholinergic Amacrine Cells

AbstractDirection-selective (DS) ganglion cells of the mammalian retina have their dendrites in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) confined to two narrow strata. The same strata are also occupied by the dendrites of cholinergic amacrine cells which are probably presynaptic to the DS ganglion cells. GABA is known to play a crucial role in creating DS responses. We examined the types of GABAA receptors expressed by the cholinergic amacrine cells and also those expressed by their presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, by applying immunocytochemical markers to vertical sections of rat retinas. Double-labelling experiments with antibodies against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and specific antibodies against different GABAA receptor subunits were performed. Cholinergic amacrine cells seem to express an unusual combination of GABAA receptor subunits consisting of α2-, β1-, β2/3-, γ2-, and δ-subunits. Bipolar cells, which could provide synaptic input to the DS circuitry, were stained with antibodies against the glutamate transporter GLT-1. The axon terminals of these bipolar cells are narrowly stratified in close proximity to the dendritic plexus of displaced cholinergic amacrine cells. The retinal distribution of synaptoporin, a synaptic vesicle associated protein, was studied. Strong reduction of immunolabelling was observed in the two cholinergic strata. The anatomical findings are discussed in the context of models of the DS circuitry of the mammalian retina.

Expression of glycine and the glycine transporter Glyt-1 in the developing rat retina

2000 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID V. POW ◽  
ANITA E. HENDRICKSON
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Horizontal Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Rat Retina ◽  
Glycine Transporter ◽  
Developing Rat

Previous studies show that glycine transporter-1 (glyt-1) is a consistent membrane marker of adult retinal neurons that are likely to release glycine at their synaptic terminals (Pow, 1998; Vaney et al., 1998; Pow & Hendrickson, 1999). The current study investigated when glyt-1 immunoreactivity appeared in the postnatal rat retina, and whether all glycine-containing neurons also labelled for glyt-1. Ganglion cells, horizontal cells, and photoreceptors showed transient labelling. Many cells in the ganglion cell layer are immunoreactive for both glycine and glyt-1 at postnatal day (Pd) 1 but both are minimal by Pd5. Transient immunoreactivity for both glyt-1 and glycine was observed in presumptive horizontal cells between Pd5 and Pd10. At Pd1 many cells in the outer part of the retina which resembled immature photoreceptors were heavily labelled for glycine, but did not express glyt-1; these disappeared at older ages. These findings suggest diverse mechanisms and transient roles for glycine in the developing rat retina. In the adult rat retina, a subpopulation of amacrine cells are prominently immunoreactive for both glycine and glyt-1. These cells labelled for glycine at Pd1, but did not express significant levels of glyt-1 until Pd5. Processes from these amacrine cells did not reach the inner half of the inner plexiform layer until Pd10–14. Bipolar cells became glycine-IR between Pd10 and Pd14, but consistently lacked any glyt-1 immunoreactivity. This temporal pattern of labelling strongly indicates that bipolar cells label for glycine when gap junctions become functional between glycine/glyt-1 immunoreactive amacrine cells and cone bipolar cells.

Neurotransmitter-specific identification and characterization of neurons in the all-cone retina of Anolis carolinensis II: Glutamate and aspartate

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Sherry ◽  
Robert J. Ulshafer
Keyword(s):  
Ganglion Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Müller Cells ◽  
Plexiform Layer ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Anolis Carolinensis ◽  
Horizontal Cells ◽  
Inner Plexiform Layer ◽  
Muller Cells

AbstractImmunocytochemical and autoradiographic methods were used to identify neurons in the pure cone retina of the lizard (Anolis carolinensis) that are likely to employ glutamate (GLU) or aspartate (ASP) as a neurotransmitter.GLU immunocytochemistry demonstrated high levels of endogenous GLU in all cone types and numerous bipolar cells. Moderate GLU levels were found in horizontal and ganglion cells. Müller cells and most amacrine cells had very low GLU levels. GLU immunoreactivity (GLU-IR) in the cones was present from the inner segment to the synaptic pedicle. A large spherical cell type with moderate GLU-IR was identified in the proximal inner plexiform layer (IPL). These cells also contain ASP and have been tentatively identified as amacrine cells. Uptake of [3H]-L-GLU labeled all retinal layers. All cone types and Müller cells sequestered [3H]-D-ASP, a substrate specific for the GLU transporter.Anti-ASP labeling was observed in cones, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, and cells in the ganglion cell layer. ASP immunoreactivity (ASP-IR) in the cones was confined to the inner segment. One ASP-containing pyriform amacrine cell subtype ramifying in IPL sublamina b was identified.Analysis of GLU-IR, ASP-IR, and GABA-IR on serial sections indicated that there were two distinct populations of horizontal cells in the Anolis retina: one containing GABA-IR, GLU-IR, and ASP-IR; and another type containing only GLU-IR and ASP-IR. Light GLU-IR was frequently found in GABA-containing amacrine cells but ASP-IR was not.The distinct distributions of GLU and ASP may indicate distinctly different roles for these amino acids. GLU, not ASP, is probably the major neurotransmitter in the cone-biploar-ganglion cell pathway of the Anolis retina. Both GLU and ASP are present in horizontal cells and specific subpopulations of amacrine cells, but it is unclear if GLU or ASP have a neurotransmitter role in these cells.

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