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Actions of GABAergic ligands on brisk ganglion cells in the cat retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Frank Müller ,
Reimund Boos  and
Heinz Wässle
Frank Müller
Affiliation:
Max-Planck Institut für Hirnforschung, Frankfurt, Germany
Reimund Boos
Affiliation:
Max-Planck Institut für Hirnforschung, Frankfurt, Germany
Heinz Wässle
Affiliation:
Max-Planck Institut für Hirnforschung, Frankfurt, Germany
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Abstract

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian retina. We tested the actions of iontophoretically applied GABAergic ligands on the spontaneous and stimulus-evoked activity of retinal ganglion cells recorded extracellularly in the in vivo cat eye.

GABA as well as GABAA receptor agonists inhibited all brisk ganglion cell types. This action was antagonized by bicuculline. Bicuculline on its own increased the activity of ON-ganglion cells but suppressed OFF-ganglion cells. This suppression effect was abolished during the blockade of glycinergic transmission by strychnine.

The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen inhibited OFF-ganglion cells whereas the activity of ON-ganglion cells was either increased or decreased depending on the stimulus contrast. The antagonists, phaclofen and 2-hydroxy saclofen, produced opposite effects to baclofen and antagonized its action.

The present study demonstrates that both GABAA and GABAB receptors modulate the activity of ON- and OFF-ganglion cells in the cat retina.

Keywords

RetinaIontophoresisGABAA-receptorsGABAB-receptorsGanglion cells
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 9 , Issue 3-4 , October 1992 , pp. 415 - 425
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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