Gap junction permeability modulated by dopamine exerts effects on spatial and temporal correlation of retinal ganglion cells' firing activities

J Comput Neurosci. 2014 Feb;36(1):67-79. doi: 10.1007/s10827-013-0469-1. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

Synchronized activities among retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) via gap junctions can be increased by exogenous dopamine (DA). During DA application, single neurons' firing activities become more synchronized with its adjacent neighbors. One intriguing question is how the enhanced spatial synchronization alters the temporal firing structure of single neurons. In the present study, firing activities of bullfrog's dimming detectors in response to binary pseudo-random checker-board flickering were recorded via a multi-channel recording system. DA was applied in the retina to modulate synchronized activities between RGCs, and the effect of DA on firing activities of single neurons was examined. It was found that, during application of DA, synchronized activities between single neuron and its neighboring neurons was enhanced. At the meantime, the temporal structures of single neuron spike train changed significantly, and the temporal correlation in single neuron's response decreased. The pharmacological study results indicated that the activation of D1 receptor might have effects on gap junction permeability between RGCs. Our results suggested that the dopaminergic pathway participated in the modulation of spatial and temporal correlation of RGCs' firing activities, and may exert critical effects on visual information processing in the retina.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects*
  • Action Potentials / physiology*
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Benzazepines / pharmacology
  • Dopamine / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Gap Junctions / drug effects*
  • Gap Junctions / physiology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Rana catesbeiana
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / drug effects*
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology
  • Sulpiride / pharmacology
  • Time Factors
  • Visual Pathways / drug effects
  • Visual Pathways / physiology

Substances

  • Benzazepines
  • Dopamine Antagonists
  • SCH 23390
  • Sulpiride
  • Dopamine