Visual stimulation switches the polarity of excitatory input to starburst amacrine cells

Anna L Vlasits; Rémi Bos; Ryan D Morrie; Cécile Fortuny; John G Flannery; Marla B Feller; Michal Rivlin-Etzion

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2014.07.037

Visual stimulation switches the polarity of excitatory input to starburst amacrine cells

Neuron. 2014 Sep 3;83(5):1172-84. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.07.037. Epub 2014 Aug 21.

Authors

Anna L Vlasits¹, Rémi Bos², Ryan D Morrie², Cécile Fortuny³, John G Flannery⁴, Marla B Feller⁵, Michal Rivlin-Etzion⁶

Affiliations

¹ Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
² Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
³ Vision Science Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
⁴ Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Vision Science Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
⁵ Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. Electronic address: mfeller@berkeley.edu.
⁶ Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel. Electronic address: michal.rivlin@weizmann.ac.il.

Abstract

Direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) are tuned to motion in one direction. Starburst amacrine cells (SACs) are thought to mediate this direction selectivity through precise anatomical wiring to DSGCs. Nevertheless, we previously found that visual adaptation can reverse DSGCs's directional tuning, overcoming the circuit anatomy. Here we explore the role of SACs in the generation and adaptation of direction selectivity. First, using pharmacogenetics and two-photon calcium imaging, we validate that SACs are necessary for direction selectivity. Next, we demonstrate that exposure to an adaptive stimulus dramatically alters SACs' synaptic inputs. Specifically, after visual adaptation, On-SACs lose their excitatory input during light onset but gain an excitatory input during light offset. Our data suggest that visual stimulation alters the interactions between rod- and cone-mediated inputs that converge on the terminals of On-cone BCs. These results demonstrate how the sensory environment can modify computations performed by anatomically defined neuronal circuits.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological / drug effects
Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
Amacrine Cells / drug effects
Amacrine Cells / physiology*
Animals
Cell Polarity / drug effects
Cell Polarity / genetics
Cell Polarity / physiology*
Connexins / deficiency
Connexins / genetics
GABA Antagonists / pharmacology
Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
Glycine Agents / pharmacology
Membrane Potentials / drug effects
Membrane Potentials / genetics
Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Neural Inhibition / drug effects
Neural Inhibition / genetics
Phosphinic Acids / pharmacology
Photic Stimulation*
Propionates / pharmacology
Pyridazines / pharmacology
Pyridines / pharmacology
Receptors, Glycine / metabolism
Retina / cytology*
Strychnine / pharmacology
Visual Pathways / drug effects
Visual Pathways / physiology

Substances

(1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid
2-amino-4-phosphono-propinate
Connexins
GABA Antagonists
Glycine Agents
Membrane Transport Proteins
Phosphinic Acids
Propionates
Pyridazines
Pyridines
Receptors, Glycine
choline transporter
gabazine
Strychnine

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding