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Homeostatic plasticity shapes the visual system’s first synapse
- Source :
- Nature Communications, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2017), Nature Communications
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Nature Portfolio, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Vision in dim light depends on synapses between rods and rod bipolar cells (RBCs). Here, we find that these synapses exist in multiple configurations, in which single release sites of rods are apposed by one to three postsynaptic densities (PSDs). Single RBCs often form multiple PSDs with one rod; and neighboring RBCs share ~13% of their inputs. Rod-RBC synapses develop while ~7% of RBCs undergo programmed cell death (PCD). Although PCD is common throughout the nervous system, its influences on circuit development and function are not well understood. We generate mice in which ~53 and ~93% of RBCs, respectively, are removed during development. In these mice, dendrites of the remaining RBCs expand in graded fashion independent of light-evoked input. As RBC dendrites expand, they form fewer multi-PSD contacts with rods. Electrophysiological recordings indicate that this homeostatic co-regulation of neurite and synapse development preserves retinal function in dim light.<br />Retinal rod bipolar cells (RBCs) partially undergo programmed cell death triggering cell density-dependent plasticity. This study shows that increased removal of RBCs using genetic approaches causes dendrites of the remaining RBCs to expand and contact more rod photoreceptors while reducing connectivity with each.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Nervous system
Retinal Bipolar Cells
Light
Neurite
genetic structures
Science
General Physics and Astronomy
Cell Count
Mice, Transgenic
Article
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Synapse
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
0302 clinical medicine
Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells
Postsynaptic potential
Homeostatic plasticity
hemic and lymphatic diseases
medicine
Animals
Homeostasis
Visual Pathways
lcsh:Science
Retina
Neuronal Plasticity
Multidisciplinary
Synaptic scaling
Chemistry
Retinal
hemic and immune systems
Dendrites
General Chemistry
Axons
030104 developmental biology
medicine.anatomical_structure
Synapses
Biophysics
lcsh:Q
sense organs
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
circulatory and respiratory physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20411723
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Nature Communications
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....7feb1bcd1be2f9a0808b033504a71b55