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PMID: 12441058 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Connexin36 is essential for transmission of rod-mediated visual signals in the mammalian retina.

Neuron ·Vol. 36 ·No. 4 ·2002-11-14 ·Pages 703-12

Deans MR, Volgyi B, Goodenough DA, Bloomfield SA, Paul DL

Abstract

To examine the functions of electrical synapses in the transmission of signals from rod photoreceptors to ganglion cells, we generated connexin36 knockout mice. Reporter expression indicated that connexin36 was present in multiple retinal neurons including rod photoreceptors, cone bipolar cells, and AII amacrine cells. Disruption of electrical synapses between adjacent AIIs and between AIIs and ON cone bipolars was demonstrated by intracellular injection of Neurobiotin. In addition, extracellular recording in the knockout revealed the complete elimination of rod-mediated, on-center responses at the ganglion cell level. These data represent direct proof that electrical synapses are critical for the propagation of rod signals across the mammalian retina, and they demonstrate the existence of multiple rod pathways, each of which is dependent on electrical synapses.

MeSH Terms
Alkaline Phosphatase Amacrine Cells/cytology,metabolism Animals Connexins/deficiency,genetics Contrast Sensitivity/genetics GPI-Linked Proteins Gap Junctions/metabolism Genes, Reporter/genetics Glycine/metabolism Immunohistochemistry Interneurons/cytology,metabolism Isoenzymes/genetics Mice Mice, Knockout Photic Stimulation Presynaptic Terminals/metabolism,ultrastructure Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells/cytology,metabolism Retinal Ganglion Cells/cytology,metabolism Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells/cytology,metabolism Sensory Thresholds/physiology Synaptic Transmission/genetics Vision, Ocular/genetics beta-Galactosidase/genetics
Chemicals
Connexins GPI-Linked Proteins Isoenzymes connexin 36 Alkaline Phosphatase alkaline phosphatase, placental beta-Galactosidase Glycine
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Deans Michael R
Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Volgyi Bela
Goodenough Daniel A
Bloomfield Stewart A
Paul David L
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Article Info
Journal
Neuron
Abbr.
Neuron
ISSN
0896-6273
DOI
10.1016/s0896-6273(02)01046-2
Published
2002-11-14
Pages
703-12
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8809320
PMCID
PMC2834592
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-20 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R01 EY014127-03 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R01 EY014127-01A2 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R01 EY007360 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-23 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-18 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-21 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R01 EY014127 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM018974 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-17 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R01 EY014127-04 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · P30 HD018655 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM37751 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-22 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-15 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · GM18974 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-14 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-16 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · R01 EY014127-02 · United States
NEI NIH HHS · EY07360 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-19 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751-13 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM037751 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · P30-HD18655 · United States
Corrections
CommentIn
PMID: 12441044
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)01046-2 PMC Full Text View journal details
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