Occupancy of the chromophore binding site of opsin activates visual transduction in rod photoreceptors. (1/599)

The retinal analogue beta-ionone was used to investigate possible physiological effects of the noncovalent interaction between rod opsin and its chromophore 11-cis retinal. Isolated salamander rod photoreceptors were exposed to bright light that bleached a significant fraction of their pigment, were allowed to recover to a steady state, and then were exposed to beta-ionone. Our experiments show that in bleach-adapted rods beta-ionone causes a decrease in light sensitivity and dark current and an acceleration of the dim flash photoresponse and the rate constants of guanylyl cyclase and cGMP phosphodiesterase. Together, these observations indicate that in bleach-adapted rods beta-ionone activates phototransduction in the dark. Control experiments showed no effect of beta-ionone in either fully dark-adapted or background light-adapted cells, indicating direct interaction of beta-ionone with the free opsin produced by bleaching. We speculate that beta-ionone binds specifically in the chromophore pocket of opsin to produce a complex that is more catalytically potent than free opsin alone. We hypothesize that a similar reaction may occur in the intact retina during pigment regeneration. We propose a model of rod pigment regeneration in which binding of 11-cis retinal to opsin leads to activation of the complex accompanied by a decrease in light sensitivity. The subsequent covalent attachment of retinal to opsin completely inactivates opsin and leads to the recovery of sensitivity. Our findings resolve the conflict between biochemical and physiological data concerning the effect of the occupancy of the chromophore binding site on the catalytic potency of opsin. We show that binding of beta-ionone to rod opsin produces effects opposite to its previously described effects on cone opsin. We propose that this distinction is due to a fundamental difference in the interaction of rod and cone opsins with retinal, which may have implications for the different physiology of the two types of photoreceptors.  (+info)

Modulation of glycine receptors in retinal ganglion cells by zinc. (2/599)

Effects of zinc, an endogenous neuromodulator in the central nervous system, on glycine receptors (GlyRs) in retinal ganglion cells were investigated by using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. Zn2+ at low concentration (<2 microM) potentiated the glycine-induced chloride current and at higher concentration (>10 microM) suppressed it. This biphasic regulatory action of zinc acted selectively on the fast component of the glycine-induced current mediated by the strychnine-sensitive GlyRs, but not on the slow component mediated by the 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid-sensitive GlyRs. Dose-response studies showed that 1 microM Zn2+ increased the maximum glycine response (I approximately) and shifted the EC50 to the left, suggesting that Zn2+ at low concentrations acts as an allosteric activator of the strychnine-sensitive GlyRs. Zn2+ at a concentration of 100 microM did not alter I approximately and shifted the EC50 to the right, indicating that Zn2+ at high concentrations acts as a competitive inhibitor of the GlyRs. Physiological functions of zinc modulation of GlyRs in retinal ganglion cells are discussed.  (+info)

Blastemal kinetics and pattern formation during amphibian limb regeneration. (3/599)

To investigate whether the uniqueness of proximal and distal limb regenerates could be attributed simply to differing blastemal growth characteristics, their increase in volume, cell number and cell-cycle times were determined. With respect to these parameters proximal and distal blastemas were identical and, furthermore, no evidence could be found for the existance of separate growth zones such as an apical proliferation centre or a progress zone within the blastema. It was therefore concluded that level-specific properties of the blastemal cells play the major role in determining the structure of the regenerate, not their growth characteristics. The only discernible difference was in the cell number within the two types of blastema at the onset of cartilage redifferentiation - proximal regenerates had 60% more cells. Thus it seems that the larger the pattern to be regenerated (the more proximal the amputation plane), the larger the primordium within which that pattern first appears. These two conclusions are discussed in relation to current theories of pattern formation during limb regeneration and development and a few way of envisaging the regeneration of pattern is described.  (+info)

Impulse encoding across the dendritic morphologies of retinal ganglion cells. (4/599)

Nerve impulse entrainment and other excitation and passive phenomena are analyzed for a morphologically diverse and exhaustive data set (n = 57) of realistic (3-dimensional computer traced) soma-dendritic tree structures of ganglion cells in the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) retina. The neurons, including axon and an anatomically specialized thin axonal segment that is observed in every ganglion cell, were supplied with five voltage- or ligand-gated ion channels (plus leakage), which were distributed in accordance with those found in a recent study that employed an equivalent dendritic cylinder. A wide variety of impulse-entrainment responses was observed, including regular low-frequency firing, impulse doublets, and more complex patterns involving impulse propagation failures (or aborted spikes) within the encoder region, all of which have been observed experimentally. The impulse-frequency response curves of the cells fell into three groups called FAST, MEDIUM, and SLOW in approximate proportion as seen experimentally. In addition to these, a new group was found among the traced cells that exhibited an impulse-frequency response twice that of the FAST category. The total amount of soma-dendritic surface area exhibited by a given cell is decisive in determining its electrophysiological classification. On the other hand, we found only a weak correlation between the electrophysiological group and the morphological classification of a given cell, which is based on the complexity of dendritic branching and the physical reach or "receptive field" area of the cell. Dendritic morphology determines discharge patterns to dendritic (synaptic) stimulation. Orthodromic impulses can be initiated on the axon hillock, the thin axonal segment, the soma, or even the proximal axon beyond the thin segment, depending on stimulus magnitude, soma-dendritic membrane area, channel distribution, and state within the repetitive impulse cycle. Although a sufficiently high dendritic Na-channel density can lead to dendritic impulse initiation, this does not occur with our "standard" channel densities and is not seen experimentally. Even so, impulses initiated elsewhere do invade all except very thin dendritic processes. Impulse-encoding irregularities increase when channel conductances are reduced in the encoder region, and the F/I properties of the cells are a strong function of the calcium- and Ca-activated K-channel densities. Use of equivalent dendritic cylinders requires more soma-dendritic surface area than real dendritic trees, and the source of the discrepancy is discussed.  (+info)

Metabotropic GABA receptors facilitate L-type and inhibit N-type calcium channels in single salamander retinal neurons. (5/599)

1. Whole-cell voltage clamp experiments were performed on isolated spiking retinal neurons from the salamander retina. Calcium channel currents were studied using barium as the charge carrier while potassium and sodium currents were suppressed with TEA and TTX, respectively. 2. Baclofen, a metabotropic GABA receptor agonist, both enhanced and suppressed high-voltage-activated calcium channel current. Baclofen facilitated an L-type channel current, and this effect was not voltage dependent. As reported previously, baclofen inhibited an N-type channel current and this action was voltage dependent. 3. While the suppressive effect was mediated by a fast-acting, direct G-protein action, the facilitatory effect was slower and was blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), either GF-109203x or the PKC (19-36) sequence fragment. 4. The pharmacology of the inhibitory and facilitatory responses differed. Commonly used antagonists of metabotropic GABA receptors, CGP35348 and CGP55845, were more potent antagonists of the inhibitory response. Similarly, a selective agonist at the metabotropic GABA receptor, APMPA, was also more effective in eliciting the inhibitory response. 5. These observations indicate that there may be two baclofen-sensitive metabotropic GABA receptors with opposing effects on calcium channel current. This is the first description of a facilitatory action of GABAB receptors and indicates that GABA may not function exclusively as an inhibitory transmitter.  (+info)

Divalent cation selectivity is a function of gating in native and recombinant cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels from retinal photoreceptors. (6/599)

The selectivity of Ca2+ over Na+ is approximately 3.3-fold larger in cGMP-gated channels of cone photoreceptors than in those of rods when measured under saturating cGMP concentrations, where the probability of channel opening is 85-90%. Under physiological conditions, however, the probability of opening of the cGMP-gated channels ranges from its largest value in darkness of 1-5% to essentially zero under continuous, bright illumination. We investigated the ion selectivity of cGMP-gated channels as a function of cyclic nucleotide concentration in membrane patches detached from the outer segments of rod and cone photoreceptors and have found that ion selectivity is linked to gating. We determined ion selectivity relative to Na+ (PX/PNa) from the value of reversal potentials measured under ion concentration gradients. The selectivity for Ca2+ over Na+ increases continuously as the probability of channel opening rises. The dependence of PCa/PNa on cGMP concentration, in both rods and cones, is well described by the same Hill function that describes the cGMP dependence of current amplitude. At the cytoplasmic cGMP concentrations expected in dark-adapted intact photoreceptors, PCa/PNa in cone channels is approximately 7.4-fold greater than that in rods. The linkage between selectivity and gating is specific for divalent cations. The selectivity of Ca2+ and Sr2+ changes with cGMP concentration, but the selectivity of inorganic monovalent cations, Cs+ and NH4+, and organic cations, methylammonium+ and dimethylammonium+, is invariant with cGMP. Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in rod photoreceptors are heteromeric assemblies of alpha and beta subunits. The maximal PCa/PNa of channels formed from alpha subunits of bovine rod channels is less than that of heteromeric channels formed from alpha and beta subunits. In addition, Ca2+ is a more effective blocker of channels formed by alpha subunits than of channels formed by alpha and beta subunits. The cGMP-dependent shift in divalent cation selectivity is a property of alphabeta channels and not of channels formed from alpha subunits alone.  (+info)

Sodium action potentials are not required for light-evoked release of GABA or glycine from retinal amacrine cells. (7/599)

Although most CNS neurons require sodium action potentials (Na-APs) for normal stimulus-evoked release of classical neurotransmitters, many types of retinal and other sensory neurons instead use only graded potentials for neurotransmitter release. The physiological properties and information processing capacity of Na-AP-producing neurons appear significantly different from those of graded potential neurons. To classify amacrine cells in this dichotomy, we investigated whether Na-APs, which are often observed in these cells, are required for functional light-evoked release of inhibitory neurotransmitters from these cells. We recorded light-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) from retinal ganglion cells, neurons directly postsynaptic to amacrine cells, and applied TTX to block Na-APs. In control solution, TTX application always led to partial suppression of the light-evoked IPSC. To isolate release from glycinergic amacrine cells, we used either bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, or picrotoxin, a GABAA and GABAC receptor antagonist. TTX application only partially suppressed the glycinergic IPSC. To isolate release from GABAergic amacrine cells, we used the glycine receptor blocker strychnine. TTX application only partially suppressed the light-evoked GABAergic IPSC. Glycinergic and GABAergic amacrine cells did not obviously differ in the usage of Na-APs for release. These observations, in conjunction with previous studies of other retinal neurons, indicate that amacrine cells, taken as a class, are the only type of retinal neuron that uses both Na-AP-dependent and -independent modes for light-evoked release of neurotransmitters. These results also provide evidence for another parallel between the properties of retinal amacrine cells and olfactory bulb granule cells.  (+info)

Spatial heterogeneity and function of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels in retinal amacrine neurons. (8/599)

The spatial distribution of ion channels within amacrine cells of the tiger salamander retina was studied using patch recording in the retinal slice preparation. By focally puffing kainate, GABA and glycine at amacrine cell processes in the inner plexiform layer, it was determined that the cell's glutamate receptors were located in a confined region of the processes near the soma, while glycine and GABA receptors were located throughout the processes. Likewise, similar techniques in conjunction with voltage steps demonstrated that voltage-gated sodium channels were located throughout the cell and were shown to generate sodium-dependent spikes, while only the processes contained voltage-gated calcium channels. These results suggest that this form of transient amacrine cell collects its excitatory synaptic inputs in a region confined to a central annular region near the soma, that the signal is actively propagated throughout its processes by voltage-gated sodium channels and that calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release of glycine from this neuron can occur throughout its processes. Thus, excitatory signals are collected in the processes near the soma, inhibitory signals throughout the processes and excitation is probably propagated throughout the processes of the amacrine cell.  (+info)

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