QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, March 7, 2007, 27(10):2646-2653; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4739-06.2007

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Calkins, D. J. Articles by Sterling, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Calkins, D. J. Articles by Sterling, P.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
Microcircuitry for Two Types of Achromatic Ganglion Cell in Primate Fovea

David J. Calkins¹ and Peter Sterling²

¹Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, and ²Department of Neuroscience, The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6058

Correspondence should be addressed to David J. Calkins, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37205. Email: david.j.calkins{at}vanderbilt.edu

Synaptic circuits in primate fovea have been quantified for midget/parvocellular ganglion cells. Here, based on partial reconstructions from serial electron micrographs, we quantify synaptic circuits for two other types of ganglion cell: the familiar parasol/magnocellular cell and a smaller type, termed "garland." The excitatory circuits both derive from two types of OFF diffuse cone bipolar cell, DB3 and DB2, which collected unselectively from at least 6 ± 1 cones, including the S type. Cone contacts to DB3 dendrites were usually located between neighboring triads, whereas half of the cone contacts to DB2 were triad associated. Ribbon outputs were as follows: DB3, 69 ± 5; DB2, 48 ± 4. A complete parasol cell (30 µm dendritic field diameter) would collect from 50 cones via 120 bipolar and 85 amacrine contacts; a complete garland cell (25 µm dendritic field) would collect from 40 cones via 75 bipolar and 145 amacrine contacts. The bipolar types contributed differently: the parasol cell received most contacts (60%) from DB3, whereas the garland cell received most contacts (67%) from DB2. We hypothesize that DB3 is a transient bipolar cell and that DB2 is sustained. This would be consistent with their relative inputs to the brisk-transient (parasol) ganglion cell. The garland cell, with its high proportion of DB2 inputs plus its high proportion of amacrine synapses (70%) and dense mosaic, might correspond to the local-edge cell in nonprimate retinas, which serves finer acuity at low temporal frequencies. The convergence of S cones onto both types could contribute S-cone input for cortical areas primary visual cortex and the middle temporal area.

Key words: primate retina; ganglion cell; bipolar cell; microcircuitry; ribbon synapse; parallel pathways

---

Received July 21, 2006; revised Jan. 18, 2007; accepted Feb. 6, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to David J. Calkins, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37205. Email: david.j.calkins{at}vanderbilt.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. G. Borghuis, C. P. Ratliff, R. G. Smith, P. Sterling, and V. Balasubramanian Design of a Neuronal Array J. Neurosci., March 19, 2008; 28(12): 3178 - 3189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help