 |
The Journal of Neuroscience, November 26, 2003, 23(34):10923-10933
Previous Article | Next Article 
Cellular/Molecular
Sustained Ca2+ Entry Elicits Transient Postsynaptic Currents at a Retinal Ribbon Synapse
Joshua H. Singer and
Jeffrey S. Diamond
Synaptic Physiology Unit, National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Night (scotopic) vision is mediated by a distinct retinal circuit in which the light responses of rod-driven neurons are faster than those of the rods themselves. To investigate the dynamics of synaptic transmission at the second synapse in the rod pathway, we made paired voltage-clamp recordings from rod bipolar cells (RBCs) and postsynaptic AII and A17 amacrine cells in rat retinal slices. Depolarization of RBCs from -60 mV elicited sustained Ca2+ currents and evoked AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated EPSCs in synaptically coupled amacrine cells that exhibited large, rapidly rising initial peaks that decayed rapidly to smaller, steady-state levels. The transient component persisted in the absence of feedback inhibition to the RBC terminal and when postsynaptic AMPA receptor desensitization was blocked with cyclothiazide, indicating that it reflects a time-dependent decrease in the rate of exocytosis from the presynaptic terminal. The EPSC waveform was similar when RBCs were recorded in perforated-patch or whole-cell configurations, but asynchronous release from RBCs was enhanced when the intraterminal Ca2+ buffer capacity was reduced. When RBCs were depolarized from -100 mV, inactivating, low voltage-activated (T-type channel-mediated) Ca2+ currents were evident. Although Ca2+ influx through T-type channels boosted vesicle release, as reflected by larger EPSCs, it did not make the EPSCs faster, indicating that activation of T-type channels is not necessary to generate a transient phase of exocytosis. We conclude that the time course of vesicle release from RBCs is inherently transient and, together with the fast kinetics of postsynaptic AMPARs, speeds transmission at this synapse.
Key words: ribbon synapse; rod bipolar cell; AII amacrine cell; retina; scotopic vision; AMPA receptor
Received Aug 6, 2003;
revised September 22, 2003;
accepted September 24, 2003.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. H. Singer, E. Glowatzki, T. Moser, B. W. Strowbridge, V. Bhandawat, and A. P. Sampath
Functional Properties of Synaptic Transmission in Primary Sense Organs
J. Neurosci.,
October 14, 2009;
29(41):
12802 - 12806.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Egger and O. Stroh
Calcium buffering in rodent olfactory bulb granule cells and mitral cells
J. Physiol.,
September 15, 2009;
587(18):
4467 - 4479.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Snellman, D. Zenisek, and S. Nawy
Switching between transient and sustained signalling at the rod bipolar-AII amacrine cell synapse of the mouse retina
J. Physiol.,
June 1, 2009;
587(11):
2443 - 2455.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Coggins and D. Zenisek
Evidence that Exocytosis Is Driven by Calcium Entry Through Multiple Calcium Channels in Goldfish Retinal Bipolar Cells
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 2009;
101(5):
2601 - 2619.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. L. Veruki and E. Hartveit
Meclofenamic Acid Blocks Electrical Synapses of Retinal AII Amacrine and ON-Cone Bipolar Cells
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 2009;
101(5):
2339 - 2347.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Oltedal, M. L. Veruki, and E. Hartveit
Passive membrane properties and electrotonic signal processing in retinal rod bipolar cells
J. Physiol.,
February 15, 2009;
587(4):
829 - 849.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. L. Kalbaugh, J. Zhang, and J. S. Diamond
Coagonist Release Modulates NMDA Receptor Subtype Contributions at Synaptic Inputs to Retinal Ganglion Cells
J. Neurosci.,
February 4, 2009;
29(5):
1469 - 1479.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y.-C. Yu, H. Satoh, S. M. Wu, and D. W. Marshak
Histamine Enhances Voltage-Gated Potassium Currents of ON Bipolar Cells in Macaque Retina
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.,
February 1, 2009;
50(2):
959 - 965.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Rieke, A. Lee, and F. Haeseleer
Characterization of Ca2+-Binding Protein 5 Knockout Mouse Retina
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.,
November 1, 2008;
49(11):
5126 - 5135.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Petit-Jacques and S. A. Bloomfield
Synaptic Regulation of the Light-Dependent Oscillatory Currents in Starburst Amacrine Cells of the Mouse Retina
J Neurophysiol,
August 1, 2008;
100(2):
993 - 1006.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. E. Chavez and J. S. Diamond
Diverse Mechanisms Underlie Glycinergic Feedback Transmission onto Rod Bipolar Cells in Rat Retina
J. Neurosci.,
July 30, 2008;
28(31):
7919 - 7928.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Schubert, D. Kerschensteiner, E. D. Eggers, T. Misgeld, M. Kerschensteiner, J. W. Lichtman, P. D. Lukasiewicz, and R. O. L. Wong
Development of Presynaptic Inhibition Onto Retinal Bipolar Cell Axon Terminals Is Subclass-Specific
J Neurophysiol,
July 1, 2008;
100(1):
304 - 316.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. B. Manookin, D. L. Beaudoin, Z. R. Ernst, L. J. Flagel, and J. B. Demb
Disinhibition Combines with Excitation to Extend the Operating Range of the OFF Visual Pathway in Daylight
J. Neurosci.,
April 16, 2008;
28(16):
4136 - 4150.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Xia, S. Nawy, and R. C. Carroll
Activity-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in Retinal Ganglion Cells
J. Neurosci.,
November 7, 2007;
27(45):
12221 - 12229.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G.-L. Li, J. Vigh, and H. von Gersdorff
Short-Term Depression at the Reciprocal Synapses between a Retinal Bipolar Cell Terminal and Amacrine Cells
J. Neurosci.,
July 11, 2007;
27(28):
7377 - 7385.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
I. K. Osswald, A. Galan, and D. Bowie
Light triggers expression of philanthotoxin-insensitive Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors in the developing rat retina
J. Physiol.,
July 1, 2007;
582(1):
95 - 111.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-J. Pang, M. M. Abd-El-Barr, F. Gao, D. E. Bramblett, D. L. Paul, and S. M. Wu
Relative contributions of rod and cone bipolar cell inputs to AII amacrine cell light responses in the mouse retina
J. Physiol.,
April 15, 2007;
580(2):
397 - 410.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Oltedal, S. H. Morkve, M. L. Veruki, and E. Hartveit
Patch-Clamp Investigations and Compartmental Modeling of Rod Bipolar Axon Terminals in an In Vitro Thin-Slice Preparation of the Mammalian Retina
J Neurophysiol,
February 1, 2007;
97(2):
1171 - 1187.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Wersinger, Y. Schwab, J.-A. Sahel, A. Rendon, D. V. Pow, S. Picaud, and M. J. Roux
The glutamate transporter EAAT5 works as a presynaptic receptor in mouse rod bipolar cells
J. Physiol.,
November 15, 2006;
577(1):
221 - 234.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Z.-Y. Zhou, Q.-F. Wan, P. Thakur, and R. Heidelberger
Capacitance Measurements in the Mouse Rod Bipolar Cell Identify a Pool of Releasable Synaptic Vesicles
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 2006;
96(5):
2539 - 2548.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Xia, R. C. Carroll, and S. Nawy
State-dependent AMPA receptor trafficking in the Mammalian retina.
J. Neurosci.,
May 10, 2006;
26(19):
5028 - 5036.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. D. Eggers and P. D. Lukasiewicz
GABAA, GABAC and glycine receptor-mediated inhibition differentially affects light-evoked signalling from mouse retinal rod bipolar cells
J. Physiol.,
April 1, 2006;
572(1):
215 - 225.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Rabl, L. Cadetti, and W. B. Thoreson
Paired-Pulse Depression at Photoreceptor Synapses
J. Neurosci.,
March 1, 2006;
26(9):
2555 - 2563.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Suryanarayanan and M. M. Slaughter
Synaptic Transmission Mediated by Internal Calcium Stores in Rod Photoreceptors
J. Neurosci.,
February 8, 2006;
26(6):
1759 - 1766.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Cadetti, D. Tranchina, and W. B. Thoreson
A comparison of release kinetics and glutamate receptor properties in shaping rod-cone differences in EPSC kinetics in the salamander retina
J. Physiol.,
December 15, 2005;
569(3):
773 - 788.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Vigh and H. von Gersdorff
Prolonged Reciprocal Signaling via NMDA and GABA Receptors at a Retinal Ribbon Synapse
J. Neurosci.,
December 7, 2005;
25(49):
11412 - 11423.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Rabl, L. Cadetti, and W. B. Thoreson
Kinetics of Exocytosis Is Faster in Cones Than in Rods
J. Neurosci.,
May 4, 2005;
25(18):
4633 - 4640.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. B. Trexler, W. Li, and S. C. Massey
Simultaneous Contribution of Two Rod Pathways to AII Amacrine and Cone Bipolar Cell Light Responses
J Neurophysiol,
March 1, 2005;
93(3):
1476 - 1485.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Koulen, J. Wei, C. Madry, J. Liu, and E. Nixon
Differentially Distributed IP3 Receptors and Ca2+ Signaling in Rod Bipolar Cells
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.,
January 1, 2005;
46(1):
292 - 298.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|

|