Lateral Inhibition in the Vertebrate Retina: The Case of the Missing Neurotransmitter

Lateral inhibition at the first synapse in the retina is important for visual perception, enhancing image contrast, color discrimination, and light adaptation. Despite decades of research, the feedback signal from horizontal cells to photoreceptors that generates lateral inhibition remains uncertain...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS biology 2015-12, Vol.13 (12), p.e1002322-e1002322
Main Authors: Kramer, Richard H, Davenport, Christopher M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Calcium Channels, N-Type - metabolism
Functional Laterality
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Hypotheses
Inhibition (Neurophysiology)
Light
Models, Neurological
Nerve Tissue Proteins - agonists
Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism
Neural Inhibition
Neurological research
Neurotransmitters
Photoreceptors
Physiological aspects
Receptors, GABA - metabolism
Retina
Retina - cytology
Retina - physiology
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - cytology
Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells - physiology
Retinal Horizontal Cells - cytology
Retinal Horizontal Cells - physiology
Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells - cytology
Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells - physiology
Synaptic Transmission
Unsolved Mystery
Vertebrates
Zinc
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Lateral inhibition at the first synapse in the retina is important for visual perception, enhancing image contrast, color discrimination, and light adaptation. Despite decades of research, the feedback signal from horizontal cells to photoreceptors that generates lateral inhibition remains uncertain. GABA, protons, or an ephaptic mechanism have all been suggested as the primary mediator of feedback. However, the complexity of the reciprocal cone to horizontal cell synapse has left the identity of the feedback signal an unsolved mystery.
ISSN:1545-7885
1544-9173
1545-7885
DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002322