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Electrophysiological evidence of GABAA and GABAC receptors on zebrafish retinal bipolar cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2008

VICTORIA P. CONNAUGHTON ,
RALPH NELSON  and
ANNA M. BENDER
VICTORIA P. CONNAUGHTON*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC
RALPH NELSON
Affiliation:
Basic Neurosciences Program, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
ANNA M. BENDER
Affiliation:
Basic Neurosciences Program, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: V.P. Connaughton, Department of Biology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

To refine inhibitory circuitry models for ON and OFF pathways in zebrafish retina, GABAergic properties of zebrafish bipolar cells were studied with two techniques: whole cell patch responses to GABA puffs in retinal slice, and voltage probe responses in isolated cells. Retinal slices documented predominantly axon terminal responses; isolated cells revealed mainly soma-dendritic responses. In the slice, GABA elicited a conductance increase, GABA responses were more robust at axon terminals than dendrites, and Erev varied with [Cl−]in. Axon terminals of ON- and OFF-type cells were similarly sensitive to GABA (30–40 pA peak current); axotomized cells were unresponsive. Bicuculline-sensitive, picrotoxin-sensitive, and picrotoxin-insensitive components were identified. Muscimol was as effective as GABA; baclofen was ineffective. Isolated bipolar cells were either intact or axotomized. Even in cells without an axon, GABA or muscimol (but not baclofen) hyperpolarized dendritic and somatic regions, suggesting significant distal expression. Median fluorescence change for GABA was −0.22 log units (∼ −16 mV); median half-amplitude dose was 0.4 μM. Reduced [Cl−]out blocked GABA responses. GABA hyperpolarized isolated ON-bipolar cells; OFF-cells were either unresponsive or depolarized. Hyperpolarizing GABA responses in isolated cells were bicuculline and TPMPA insensitive, but blocked or partially blocked by picrotoxin or zinc. In summary, axon terminals contain bicuculline-sensitive GABAA receptors and both picrotoxin-sensitive and insensitive GABAC receptors. Dendritic processes express zinc- and picrotoxin-sensitive GABAC receptors.

Keywords

RetinaBipolar cellsGABAZebrafishInhibition
Type
Research Article
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , March 2008 , pp. 139 - 153
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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