 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
The Journal of Neuroscience, May 15, 1999, 19(10):3874-3887
Spontaneous Activity in Developing Turtle Retinal Ganglion Cells:
Pharmacological Studies
Evelyne
Sernagor1 and
Norberto M.
Grzywacz2
1 Department of Child Health, the Medical School,
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United
Kingdom, and 2 The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute,
San Francisco, California 94115
Extracellular recordings were obtained from the ganglion cell (GC)
layer during correlated spontaneous bursting activity (SBA) in the
immature turtle retina. Pharmacological agents were bath-applied, and
their effects on burst and correlation parameters were determined.
SBA requires synaptic transmission. It was blocked in the presence of
curare and mecamylamine, two cholinergic nicotinic antagonists, and
enhanced with neostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor. SBA was
profoundly inhibited during blockade of glutamatergic receptors with
the broad spectrum antagonist kynurenate and it vanished with
6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2-3-dione (DNQX) and
6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), two AMPA/kainate
receptor antagonists. Blockade of NMDA receptors with
D( )-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid
(D-AP-5) led only to a modest reduction in SBA. Blockade of
GABAA receptors with bicuculline prolonged the duration of
the bursts. Inhibition of GABA uptake with nipecotic acid led to a
decrease in burst rate. Blockade of K+ channels with
cesium (Cs+) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) led to a
dramatic decrease in excitability. Burst propagation between
neighboring GCs was reduced by K+ channel blockade.
Gap junction blockade had no consistent effect on bursts or correlation
parameters. None of these drugs had a strong effect on the refractory
period between bursts.
We conclude that correlated SBA in immature turtle GCs requires both
cholinergic nicotinic and glutamatergic (mainly through AMPA/kainate
receptors) synaptic transmission. GABAergic activity modulates the
intensity and the duration of the bursts. Extracellular K+ is involved in lateral activity propagation and
increases retinal excitability, which may be required for burst generation.
Key words:
retinal ganglion cells; development; spontaneous
activity; spontaneous bursts; acetylcholine; glutamate; extracellular
potassium; turtle
Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/99/19103874-14$05.00/0
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
M. H. Hennig, C. Adams, D. Willshaw, and E. Sernagor
Early-Stage Waves in the Retinal Network Emerge Close to a Critical State Transition between Local and Global Functional Connectivity
J. Neurosci.,
January 28, 2009;
29(4):
1077 - 1086.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. J. Moody and M. M. Bosma
Ion Channel Development, Spontaneous Activity, and Activity-Dependent Development in Nerve and Muscle Cells
Physiol Rev,
July 1, 2005;
85(3):
883 - 941.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Leitch, J. Coaker, C. Young, V. Mehta, and E. Sernagor
GABA Type-A Activity Controls Its Own Developmental Polarity Switch in the Maturing Retina
J. Neurosci.,
May 11, 2005;
25(19):
4801 - 4805.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Sernagor, C. Young, and S. J. Eglen
Developmental Modulation of Retinal Wave Dynamics: Shedding Light on the GABA Saga
J. Neurosci.,
August 20, 2003;
23(20):
7621 - 7629.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. E. Harris, M. G. Coulombe, and M. B. Feller
Dissociated Retinal Neurons Form Periodically Active Synaptic Circuits
J Neurophysiol,
July 1, 2002;
88(1):
188 - 195.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. H. Singer, R. R. Mirotznik, and M. B. Feller
Potentiation of L-Type Calcium Channels Reveals Nonsynaptic Mechanisms that Correlate Spontaneous Activity in the Developing Mammalian Retina
J. Neurosci.,
November 1, 2001;
21(21):
8514 - 8522.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z. J. Zhou
A Critical Role of the Strychnine-Sensitive Glycinergic System in Spontaneous Retinal Waves of the Developing Rabbit
J. Neurosci.,
July 15, 2001;
21(14):
5158 - 5168.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Bansal, J. H. Singer, B. J. Hwang, W. Xu, A. Beaudet, and M. B. Feller
Mice Lacking Specific Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunits Exhibit Dramatically Altered Spontaneous Activity Patterns and Reveal a Limited Role for Retinal Waves in Forming ON and OFF Circuits in the Inner Retina
J. Neurosci.,
October 15, 2000;
20(20):
7672 - 7681.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z. J. Zhou and D. Zhao
Coordinated Transitions in Neurotransmitter Systems for the Initiation and Propagation of Spontaneous Retinal Waves
J. Neurosci.,
September 1, 2000;
20(17):
6570 - 6577.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. A. Jones and S. M. Jones
Spontaneous Activity in the Statoacoustic Ganglion of the Chicken Embryo
J Neurophysiol,
March 1, 2000;
83(3):
1452 - 1468.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. T. Wong, K. L. Myhr, E. D. Miller, and R. O. L. Wong
Developmental Changes in the Neurotransmitter Regulation of Correlated Spontaneous Retinal Activity
J. Neurosci.,
January 1, 2000;
20(1):
351 - 360.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Sernagor, S. J. Eglen, and M. J. O'Donovan
Differential Effects of Acetylcholine and Glutamate Blockade on the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Retinal Waves
J. Neurosci.,
January 15, 2000;
20(2):
RC56 - RC56.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
