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Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels of the Vertebrate Retina

From the Genetics of Blindness to Encoding the Visual World

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Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

Part of the book series: Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit ((MBIU))

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Abstract

Ca2+ channel-mediated synaptic transmission and calcium signaling in the retina reveals neurobiological solutions to a diversity of signal processing challenges. neurobiological solutions to a diversity of signal processing challenges. In rod and cone photoreceptors, graded and sustained transduction signals, generated over a narrow range of membrane potentials, are synaptically transmitted to second order horizontal and bipolar cells. In rods, novel Ca2+ channels (α1F; Cav1.4) have been implicated at this synapse through genetic studies of people with night blindness, while in cones, biophysically similar α1D(Cav1.3) channels appear to be utilized for this purpose. Although the synaptic output of horizontal cells appears to be Ca2+-independent, these cells express L-type Ca2+ channels. horizontal cells appears to be Ca2+-independent, these cells express L-type Ca2+ channels. Bipolar cells, which are also graded potential neurons, utilize both L- and T-type Ca2+ channels at their output synapse where the transience of the neural signals is enhanced. their output synapse where the transience of the neural signals is enhanced. At the ganglion cell level, network integration of excitatory and inhibitory signals generates the throughput of the optic nerve. optic nerve. T-type Ca2+ channels together with several sub-types of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel subtypes play roles in signal integration and are modulated by neurotransmitters and signaling molecules such as nitric oxide (NO). and signaling molecules such as nitric oxide (NO). Pervasive in developing retinal cells and in retinal precursor cells, T-type Ca2+ channels (α1G and α1H; Cav3.1 and 3.2) undergo down-regulation as the cells mature into differentiated neurons and glia. down-regulation as the cells mature into differentiated neurons and glia. Since all neuronal Ca2+ channel subtypes appear to be represented in the retina, this accessible and well-understood tissue offers many advantages to aid in our understanding of the physiological role of Ca2+ channels in the brain.

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  1. Departments of Pharmacology and Ophthalmology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Melanie E. M. Kelly

  2. Departments of Physiology and Biophysics and Ophthalmology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Steven Barnes

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Kelly, M.E.M., Barnes, S. (2005). Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels of the Vertebrate Retina. In: Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-27526-6_22

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