TY - JOUR
T1 - Convergence and segregation of the multiple rod pathways in mammalian retina
AU - Völgyi, Béla
AU - Deans, Michael R.
AU - Paul, David L.
AU - Bloomfield, Stewart A.
PY - 2004/12/8
Y1 - 2004/12/8
N2 - Using a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrate that three different pathways are responsible for the transmission of rod signals across the mouse retina. Each pathway serves a primarily nonoverlapping range of stimulus intensities, with ganglion cells receiving either segregated or convergent inputs. For both on-center (ON) and off-center (OFF) ganglion cells, the primary rod pathway carries signals with the lowest threshold, whereas the secondary rod pathway is less sensitive by ∼1 log unit. In addition, OFF signaling uses a tertiary rod pathway that is ∼1 log unit less sensitive than the secondary. Although some ganglion cells received rod inputs exclusively from one of the pathways, others showed convergent inputs. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we defined classes of ON and OFF ganglion cells for which the scotopic inputs derive only from the primary pathway or from both primary and secondary pathways. In addition, we observed a class of OFF ganglion cell receiving mixed input from primary and tertiary pathways. Interestingly, OFF ganglion cells receiving convergent inputs from all three rod pathways or from the secondary and tertiary pathways together were never observed. Overall, our data show a complex arrangement of convergence and segregation of rod inputs to ganglion cells in the mammalian retina.
AB - Using a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrate that three different pathways are responsible for the transmission of rod signals across the mouse retina. Each pathway serves a primarily nonoverlapping range of stimulus intensities, with ganglion cells receiving either segregated or convergent inputs. For both on-center (ON) and off-center (OFF) ganglion cells, the primary rod pathway carries signals with the lowest threshold, whereas the secondary rod pathway is less sensitive by ∼1 log unit. In addition, OFF signaling uses a tertiary rod pathway that is ∼1 log unit less sensitive than the secondary. Although some ganglion cells received rod inputs exclusively from one of the pathways, others showed convergent inputs. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we defined classes of ON and OFF ganglion cells for which the scotopic inputs derive only from the primary pathway or from both primary and secondary pathways. In addition, we observed a class of OFF ganglion cell receiving mixed input from primary and tertiary pathways. Interestingly, OFF ganglion cells receiving convergent inputs from all three rod pathways or from the secondary and tertiary pathways together were never observed. Overall, our data show a complex arrangement of convergence and segregation of rod inputs to ganglion cells in the mammalian retina.
KW - Convergence
KW - Gap junction
KW - Retina
KW - Retinal ganglion cell
KW - Rod
KW - Vision
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=10944246479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=10944246479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3096-04.2004
DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3096-04.2004
M3 - Article
C2 - 15590935
AN - SCOPUS:10944246479
SN - 0270-6474
VL - 24
SP - 11182
EP - 11192
JO - Journal of Neuroscience
JF - Journal of Neuroscience
IS - 49
ER -