Document Detail


Gap-junctional coupling of mammalian rod photoreceptors and its effect on visual detection.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22399777     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The presence of gap junctions between rods in mammalian retina suggests a role for rod-rod coupling in human vision. Rod coupling is known to reduce response variability, but because junctional conductances are not known, the downstream effects on visual performance are uncertain. Here we assessed rod coupling in guinea pig retina by measuring: (1) the variability in responses to dim flashes, (2) Neurobiotin tracer coupling, and (3) junctional conductances. Results were consolidated into an electrical network model and a model of human psychophysical detection. Guinea pig rods form tracer pools of 1 to ∼20 rods, with junctional conductances averaging ∼350 pS. We calculate that coupling will reduce human dark-adapted sensitivity ∼10% by impairing the noise filtering of the synapse between rods and rod bipolar cells. However, coupling also mitigates synaptic saturation and is thus calculated to improve sensitivity when stimuli are spatially restricted or are superimposed over background illumination.
Authors:
Peter H Li; Jan Verweij; James H Long; Julie L Schnapf
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience     Volume:  32     ISSN:  1529-2401     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Neurosci.     Publication Date:  2012 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-03-08     Completed Date:  2012-04-23     Revised Date:  2012-09-28    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8102140     Medline TA:  J Neurosci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  3552-62     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Departments of Ophthalmology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Dark Adaptation / physiology*
Female
Gap Junctions / metabolism*
Guinea Pigs
Humans
Macaca mulatta
Male
Models, Neurological
Photic Stimulation / methods
Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism*
Visual Perception / physiology*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
EY02162/EY/NEI NIH HHS; EY07642/EY/NEI NIH HHS; R01 EY007642-18/EY/NEI NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections

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