The open- and closed-loop gain-characteristics of the cone/horizontal cell synapse in goldfish retina

The receptive field construction of midget ganglion cells in primate retina

The midget pathway of the primate retina provides the visual system with the foundations for high spatial resolution and color perception. An essential contributor to these properties is center-surround organization, in which responses from the central area of a cell's receptive field are antagonized by responses from a surrounding area. Two key questions about center-surround organization are unresolved. First, the surround is largely or completely due to negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones: how can this feedback be reconciled with the popular difference of Gaussians (DOG) model, which implies feedforward inhibition? Second, can the spatial extent of center and surround be predicted from the components-optics, horizontal cell receptive field, ganglion cell dendrites-that give rise to them? We address these questions with a computational model of midget pathway signal processing in macaque retina; model parameters are derived from published literature. We show that, contrary to the DOG model, the surround's effect is better treated as divisive. A simplified version of our model-a ratio of Gaussians (ROG) model-has practical advantages over the DOG, such as accounting for spatiotemporal interactions and pulse responses. The ROG model also shows that both center and surround radii can be calculated from a sum of squared radii of their components. Finally, chromatic antagonism between center and surround in the full model predicts cone opponency as a function of eccentricity. We suggest that a signal-processing model gives new insight into retinal function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We simulated signal processing from cones to midget ganglion cells in the monkey retina and found that: 1) center/surround structure is better described as a ratio of Gaussian functions than as the traditional difference of Gaussians; 2) ganglion cell center and surround radii can be calculated from a sum of squares of radii in upstream stages; 3) the model can predict chromatic dominance in the center and surround mechanisms as a function of eccentricity.

The role of nitric oxide in spectral information processing in the distal turtle retina

Chromaticity type horizontal cells (C-type HCs) are the first retinal neurons exhibiting spectral information processing in cold-blooded vertebrates. The simple input of hyperpolarizing responses of cone photoreceptors is transformed in the C-type HCs into spectral opponent output. Nitric oxide (NO), a known background neuromodulator in the distal retina, was tested here for its effects upon spectral information processing by C-type HCs in the retina of turtle. Photoresponses were intracellularly recorded from C-type HCs, using light stimuli of different wavelength, applied over backgrounds of different wavelengths, and changing retinal NO level. Raising retinal level of NO in darkness by adding the precursor for its synthesis (l-Arginine) augmented the depolarizing photoresponses elicited by long-wavelength light stimuli, and reduced the hyperpolarizing photoresponses elicited by short-wavelength light stimuli. Lowering retinal level of NO by l-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthesis, induced the opposite effects. However, the total voltage range of operation remained constant regardless of the level of NO. Qualitatively similar effects were observed under background illuminations regardless of background strength and wavelength. Altering retinal level of NO exerted a small effect upon the null wavelength. Our findings are consistent with the known effects of NO upon turtle distal retinal neurons, with the addition of NO strengthening the negative feedback pathway from L-type horizontal cells onto medium-wavelength cones.

Synaptic and circuit mechanisms promoting broadband transmission of olfactory stimulus dynamics

Sensory stimuli fluctuate on many timescales. However, short-term plasticity causes synapses to act as temporal filters, limiting the range of frequencies that they can transmit. How synapses in vivo might transmit a range of frequencies in spite of short-term plasticity is poorly understood. The first synapse in the Drosophila olfactory system exhibits short-term depression, but can transmit broadband signals. Here we describe two mechanisms that broaden the frequency characteristics of this synapse. First, two distinct excitatory postsynaptic currents transmit signals on different timescales. Second, presynaptic inhibition dynamically updates synaptic properties to promote accurate transmission of signals across a wide range of frequencies. Inhibition is transient, but grows slowly, and simulations reveal that these two features of inhibition promote broadband synaptic transmission. Dynamic inhibition is often thought to restrict the temporal patterns that a neuron responds to, but our results illustrate a different idea: inhibition can expand the bandwidth of neural coding.

Transformation of visual signals by inhibitory interneurons in retinal circuits

One of the largest mysteries of the brain lies in understanding how higher-level computations are implemented by lower-level operations in neurons and synapses. In particular, in many brain regions inhibitory interneurons represent a diverse class of cells, the individual functional roles of which are unknown. We discuss here how the operations of inhibitory interneurons influence the behavior of a circuit, focusing on recent results in the vertebrate retina. A key role in this understanding is played by a common representation of the visual stimulus that can be applied at different stages. By considering how this stimulus representation changes at each location in the circuit, we can understand how neuron-level operations such as thresholds and inhibition yield circuit-level computations such as how stimulus selectivity and gain are controlled by local and peripheral visual stimuli.

Chloride currents in cones modify feedback from horizontal cells to cones in goldfish retina

In neuronal systems, excitation and inhibition must be well balanced to ensure reliable information transfer. The cone/horizontal cell (HC) interaction in the retina is an example of this. Because natural scenes encompass an enormous intensity range both in temporal and spatial domains, the balance between excitation and inhibition in the outer retina needs to be adaptable. How this is achieved is unknown. Using electrophysiological techniques in the isolated retina of the goldfish, it was found that opening Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels in recorded cones reduced the size of feedback responses measured in both cones and HCs. Furthermore, we show that cones express Cl(-) channels that are gated by GABA released from HCs. Similar to activation of I(Cl(Ca)), opening of these GABA-gated Cl(-) channels reduced the size of light-induced feedback responses both in cones and HCs. Conversely, application of picrotoxin, a blocker of GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptors, had the opposite effect. In addition, reducing GABA release from HCs by blocking GABA transporters also led to an increase in the size of feedback. Because the independent manipulation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) currents in individual cones yielded results comparable to bath-applied GABA, it was concluded that activation of either Cl(-) current by itself is sufficient to reduce the size of HC feedback. However, additional effects of GABA on outer retinal processing cannot be excluded. These results can be accounted for by an ephaptic feedback model in which a cone Cl(-) current shunts the current flow in the synaptic cleft. The Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) current might be essential to set the initial balance between the feedforward and the feedback signals active in the cone HC synapse. It prevents that strong feedback from HCs to cones flood the cone with Ca(2)(+). Modulation of the feedback strength by GABA might play a role during light/dark adaptation, adjusting the amount of negative feedback to the signal to noise ratio of the cone output.

No evidence of UV cone input to mono- and biphasic horizontal cells in the goldfish retina

Many animal species make use of ultraviolet (UV) light in a number of behaviors, such as feeding and mating. The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is among those with a UV photoreceptor and pronounced UV sensitivity. Little is known, however, about the retinal processing of this input. We addressed this issue by recording intracellularly from second-order neurons in the adult goldfish retina. In order to test whether cone-driven horizontal cells (HCs) receive UV cone inputs, we performed chromatic adaptation experiments with mono- and biphasic HCs. We found no functional evidence of a projection from the UV-sensitive cones to these neurons in adult animals. This suggests that goldfish UV receptors may contact preferentially triphasic HCs, which is at odds with the hypothesis that all cones contact all cone-driven HC types. However, we did find evidence of direct M-cone input to monophasic HCs, favoring the idea that cone-HC contacts are more promiscuous than originally proposed. Together, our results suggest that either UV cones have a more restricted set of post-synaptic partners than the other three cone types, or that the UV input to mono- and biphasic HCs is not very pronounced in adult animals.

Hemichannel-mediated and pH-based feedback from horizontal cells to cones in the vertebrate retina

BACKGROUND

Recent studies designed to identify the mechanism by which retinal horizontal cells communicate with cones have implicated two processes. According to one account, horizontal cell hyperpolarization induces an increase in pH within the synaptic cleft that activates the calcium current (Ca(2+)-current) in cones, enhancing transmitter release. An alternative account suggests that horizontal cell hyperpolarization increases the Ca(2+)-current to promote transmitter release through a hemichannel-mediated ephaptic mechanism.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

To distinguish between these mechanisms, we interfered with the pH regulating systems in the retina and studied the effects on the feedback responses of cones and horizontal cells. We found that the pH buffers HEPES and Tris partially inhibit feedback responses in cones and horizontal cells and lead to intracellular acidification of neurons. Application of 25 mM acetate, which does not change the extracellular pH buffer capacity, does lead to both intracellular acidification and inhibition of feedback. Because intracellular acidification is known to inhibit hemichannels, the key experiment used to test the pH hypothesis, i.e. increasing the extracellular pH buffer capacity, does not discriminate between a pH-based feedback system and a hemichannel-mediated feedback system. To test the pH hypothesis in a manner independent of artificial pH-buffer systems, we studied the effect of interfering with the endogenous pH buffer, the bicarbonate/carbonic anhydrase system. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase allowed for large changes in pH in the synaptic cleft of bipolar cell terminals and cone terminals, but the predicted enhancement of the cone feedback responses, according to the pH-hypothesis, was not observed. These experiments thus failed to support a proton mediated feedback mechanism. The alternative hypothesis, the hemichannel-mediated ephaptic feedback mechanism, was therefore studied experimentally, and its feasibility was buttressed by means of a quantitative computer model of the cone/horizontal cell synapse.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the data presented in this paper offers further support for physiologically relevant ephaptic interactions in the retina.

Linear and nonlinear systems analysis of the visual system: why does it seem so linear? A review dedicated to the memory of Henk Spekreijse

Linear and nonlinear systems analysis are tools that can be used to study communication systems like the visual system. The first step of systems analysis often is to test whether or not the system is linear. Retinal pathways are surprisingly linear, and some neurons in the visual cortex also emulate linear sensory transducers. We conclude that the retinal linearity depends on specialized ribbon synapses while cortical linearity is the result of balanced excitatory and inhibitory synaptic interactions.

Inner and outer retinal pathways both contribute to surround inhibition of salamander ganglion cells

Illumination of the receptive-field surround reduces the sensitivity of a retinal ganglion cell to centre illumination. The steady, antagonistic receptive-field surround of retinal ganglion cells is classically attributed to the signalling of horizontal cells in the outer plexiform layer (OPL). However, amacrine cell signalling in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) also contributes to the steady receptive-field surround of the ganglion cell. We examined the contributions of these two forms of presynaptic lateral inhibition to ganglion cell light sensitivity by measuring the effects of surround illumination on EPSCs evoked by centre illumination. GABA(C) receptor antagonists reduced inhibition attributed to dim surround illumination, suggesting that this inhibition was mediated by signalling to bipolar cell axon terminals. Brighter surround illumination further reduced the light sensitivity of the ganglion cell. The bright surround effects on the EPSCs were insensitive to GABA receptor blockers. Perturbing outer retinal signalling with either carbenoxolone or cobalt blocked the effects of the bright surround illumination, but not the effects of dim surround illumination. We found that the light sensitivities of presynaptic, inhibitory pathways in the IPL and OPL were different. GABA(C) receptor blockers reduced dim surround inhibition, suggesting it was mediated in the IPL. By contrast, carbenoxolone and cobalt reduced bright surround, suggesting it was mediated by horizontal cells in the OPL. Direct amacrine cell input to ganglion cells, mediated by GABA(A) receptors, comprised another surround pathway that was most effectively activated by bright illumination. Our results suggest that surround activation of lateral pathways in the IPL and OPL differently modulate the sensitivity of the ganglion cell to centre illumination.

Cobalt ions inhibit negative feedback in the outer retina by blocking hemichannels on horizontal cells

In goldfish, negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones shifts the activation function of the Ca2+ current of the cones to more negative potentials. This shift increases the amount of Ca2+ flowing into the cones, resulting in an increase in glutamate release. The increased glutamate release forms the basis of the feedback-mediated responses in second-order neurons, such as the surround-induced responses of bipolar cells and the spectral coding of horizontal cells. Low concentrations of Co2+ block these feedback-mediated responses in turtle retina. The mechanism by which this is accomplished is unknown. We studied the effects of Co2+ on the cone/horizontal network of goldfish retina and found that Co2+ greatly reduced the feedback-mediated responses in both cones and horizontal cells in a GABA-independent way. The reduction of the feedback-mediated responses is accompanied by a small shift of the Ca2+ current of the cones to positive potentials. We have previously shown that hemichannels on the tips of the horizontal cell dendrites are involved in the modulation of the Ca2+ current in cones. Both the absence of this Co2+-induced shift of the Ca2+ current in the absence of a hemichannel conductance and the sensitivity of Cx26 hemichannels to low concentrations of Co2+ are consistent with a role for hemichannels in negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones.

The involvement of glutamate-gated channels in negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones

Photoreceptors are the light sensitive cells in the retina. They project to horizontal cells and bipolar cells via a glutamatergic feed forward pathway. Horizontal cells are strongly electrically coupled and integrate in that way the input from the photoreceptors. Horizontal cells feedback to cones negatively. The combined signal from the photoreceptors and the horizontal cells is sent to the bipolar cells. The feedback pathway from horizontal cells to cones is thought to form the basis for the center/surround organization of bipolar cells. The nature of the feedback pathway is an issue of intense debate. It was thought for a long time that this feedback pathway was GABAergic, because cones have GABA-receptors and horizontal cells release GABA via a GABA-transporter working in the reversed direction. However, recently we showed in goldfish that horizontal cells feed back to cones via an alternative mechanism. In goldfish, negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones shifts the calcium current of the cone to more negative potentials. This feedback pathway is independent of GABA, since feedback cannot be blocked by either saturating concentrations of PTX, the GABA-transporter blocker SKF89976A, or application of GABA. The mechanism of negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones involves hemichannels located at the tips of the invaginating horizontal cells, just opposite to the calcium channels of the cones. Current flowing through these hemichannels changes the extracellular potential deep in the synaptic cleft and in that way modulates the calcium current of the cones. Such a modulation of the extracellular potential is called ephaptic. If negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones is indeed ephaptic, other channels present in the synapse should also be able to act as a current source, i.e., should also be able to change the output of the cone. We showed that glutamate-gated channels present at the tips of the horizontal cell dendrites can also mediate feedback responses. Surprisingly, although the glutamate-gated conductance of the horizontal cells is eight times the hemichannel conductance, glutamate-gated channels are not the major current source in negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones. In this chapter we present evidence that this is due to the more focal localization of the hemichannels, compared to a diffuse and extrasynaptic localization of the glutamate-gated channels.

Nitric oxide modulates the transfer function between cones and horizontal cells during changing conditions of ambient illumination

It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) serves as a retinal neuromodulator, adjusting retinal function to changing conditions of adaptation. We tested this hypothesis in the intact turtle retina by recording the photoresponses of L-cones and L1-horizontal cells, while changing retinal NO level and background illumination. Raising the retinal level of NO, by adding an NO donor (sodium nitroprusside) or the precursor for NO synthesis (L-arginine), induced response augmentation in L-cones and L1-horizontal cells. Lowering retinal level of NO by adding L-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthesis, reduced the amplitudes of the photoresponses in these retinal neurons. The transfer function between L-cones and L1-horizontal cells, constructed from the photoresponses of these cells, was modified by NO and by background lights. The nonlinear transfer function, characteristic of the dark-adapted retina, became linear and of low gain when the retinal NO level was increased or by increasing the level of ambient illumination. In contrast, inhibiting NO synthesis in the light-adapted retina induced nonlinearity in the cone-to-horizontal cell transfer function similar to that seen in the dark-adapted state. NADPH diaphorase histochemistry, conducted on isolated retinal cells, demonstrated activity in cone inner segments and distal process of Müller cells. These findings support the hypothesis that NO synthesis in the distal turtle retina is triggered by background illumination, and that NO acts to adjust the modes of visual information processing in the outer plexiform layer to the conditions required during continuous background illumination.

Ephaptic interactions within a chemical synapse: hemichannel-mediated ephaptic inhibition in the retina

The two best-known types of cell-cell communication are chemical synapses and electrical synapses, which are formed by gap junctions. A third, less well known, form of communication is ephaptic transmission, in which electric fields generated by a specific neuron alter the excitability of neighboring neurons as a result of their anatomical and electrical proximity. Ephaptic communication can be present in a variety of forms, each with their specific features and functional implications. One of these is ephaptic modulation within a chemical synapse. This type of communication has recently been proposed for the cone-horizontal cell synapse in the vertebrate retina. Evidence indicates that the extracellular potential in the synaptic terminal of photoreceptors is modulated by current flowing through connexin hemichannels at the tips of the horizontal cell dendrites, mediating negative feedback from horizontal cells to cones. This example can be added to the growing list of cases of ephaptic communication in the central nervous system.

Different effects of low Ca2+ on signal transmission from rods and cones to bipolar cells in carp retina

Modulation of signal transmission from rods, red-sensitive (R-) and green-sensitive (G-) cones to bipolar cells by lowering extracellular Ca(2+) was studied in the isolated superfused carp retina using intracellular recording techniques. Low Ca(2+) (nominally Ca(2+)-free) potentiated light responses of rod dominant ON bipolar cells (rod-ON-BCs). On the other hand, responses of cone dominant ON bipolar cells (cone-ON-BCs) driven by G-cones were dramatically decreased whereas those driven by R-cones were hardly changed in low Ca(2+). Similar effects were observed in scotopic and photopic electroretinographic (ERG) b waves, which reflect the activities of ON-BCs driven by rods and cones, respectively. IBMX (100 microM), an inhibitor of PDE, whose effects mimic those of low Ca(2+) on phototransduction, increased responses of both rod-ON-BCs and cone-ON-BCs, suggesting that the distinct effects of low Ca(2+) described above are attributable to differential modulation of signal transfer from different types of photoreceptors to BCs. Moreover, scotopic ERG P III responses, reflecting the rod activity, were potentiated both in low Ca(2+) and in the presence of IBMX (100 microM). Low Ca(2+) causes multiple changes in the outer retina, including increase of glutamate release from the photoreceptor terminal, increase of current and voltage responses of photoreceptors to light, alteration of the synaptic gain from photoreceptors to BCs and modulation of mGluR6 pathway in the rod-ON-BCs. Interplay of these changes may account for differential modulation of R-cone and G-cone driven BC responses, as well as the different effects on rod- and cone-ON-BCs.

The influence of HEPES on light responses of rabbit horizontal cells

HEPES-buffered solutions, mostly used in studies of isolated cells, and bicarbonate-buffered solutions, mostly used in studies of isolated retinal tissues, have both been used to superfuse an isolated rabbit retina preparation. The responses of horizontal cells (HCs) to light, detected by intracellular microelectrodes filled with Lucifer Yellow, were recorded. Buffering of the superfusate with 100% HEPES completely, but reversibly, abolished the responses of A-type HCs, and is not, therefore, suitable for studies on isolated rabbit retinas. The responses remained when buffering was partially with HEPES and partially with bicarbonate, but were changed: in A-type HCs the overshoot was reduced and the afterpotential was increased. The overshoot may be caused by feedback of HCs on the cones and might be dependent on pHi at the synaptic structure between HCs and photoreceptors.

The dynamic characteristics of the feedback signal from horizontal cells to cones in the goldfish retina

1. The dynamic properties of the microcircuitry formed by cones and horizontal cells in the isolated goldfish retina were studied. Cones project to horizontal cells and horizontal cells feed back to cones via a relatively slow negative feedback pathway. 2. The time constant of the feedback signal in cones and of the effect this feedback signal had on the responses of second-order neurons was determined using whole-cell patch clamp and intracellular recording techniques. 3. It was found that the feedback signal in cones had a time constant of around 80 ms, whereas the time constant of the effect this feedback signal had on the second-order neurons ranged from 36 to 116 ms. This range of time constants can be accounted for by the non-linearity of the Ca(2+) current in the cones. In depolarized cones, the feedback-mediated response in second-order neurons had a similar time constant to that of the direct light response of the cone, whereas in hyperpolarized cones, the time constant of the feedback-mediated response in second-order neurons was considerably larger. 4. Further, it was shown that there was no delay in the feedback pathway. This is in contrast to what has been deduced from the response properties of second-order neurons. In one type of horizontal cell, the responses to red light were delayed relative to the responses to green light. This delay in the second-order neurons can be accounted for by the interaction of the direct light response of the medium-wavelength-sensitive cones (M-cones) with the feedback response of the M-cones received from the horizontal cells.

Hemichannel-Mediated Inhibition in the Outer Retina

An essential feature of the first synapse in the retina is a negative feedback pathway from horizontal cells to cones. Here we show that at this synapse, connexin26 forms hemichannels on horizontal cell dendrites near the glutamate release site of the cones. Blocking these hemichannels hyperpolarizes horizontal cells, modulates the Ca2+ channels of the cones, and abolishes all feedback-mediated responses. We propose a feedback mechanism in which the activity of the Ca2+ channels and the subsequent glutamate release of the cones are modulated by a current through these hemichannels. Because the current through the hemichannels depends on the polarization of the horizontal cells, their activity modulates the output of the cones.