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The Neural Basis of Early Vision pp 5–14Cite as

Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in Human Photoreceptors: Na+ and Hyperpolarization-Activated Cation Channels

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Part of the book series: Keio University International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine ((KEIO,volume 11))

Abstract

A light stimulus hyperpolarizes photoreceptors in biochemical processes in the outer segment and reduces the release of neurotransmitter by decreasing a Ca2+ influx at their synaptic terminals [1–6]. The photovoltage is shaped by voltage-gated channels in the inner segment [7–11]. Major voltage-gated currents measured in vertebrate photoreceptors are an L-type Ca2+ current, a delayed rectifier K+ current, a fast transient K+ current, and a hyperpolarization-activated cation current (h current) [7, 9, 10, 12]. Although mammalian photoreceptors are commonly thought to be nonspiking neurons [7, 9–11, 13], electrophysiological recordings with suction electrodes show that the termination of a light stimulus induces spike-like current responses in monkey photoreceptors [14]. This raises the possibility that primate photoreceptors may be able to generate action potentials. However, this hypothesis still remains uncertain, as there are few voltage recordings from primate photoreceptors [11, 15, 16]. Using the patch-clamp technique, we examined whether human rod photoreceptors can elicit action potentials, and also investigated the role of the voltage-gated currents for rod voltage responses.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan

    Ei-ichi Miyachi & Fusao Kawai

Authors
  1. Ei-ichi Miyachi
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  2. Fusao Kawai
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, 160-8582, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Akimichi Kaneko M.D., Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Tokyo

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Miyachi, Ei., Kawai, F. (2003). Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in Human Photoreceptors: Na+ and Hyperpolarization-Activated Cation Channels. In: Kaneko, A. (eds) The Neural Basis of Early Vision. Keio University International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine, vol 11. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68447-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68447-3_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68449-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68447-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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