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Published on: January 16, 2024
Mammalian retinal bipolar cells express inwardly rectifying K+ currents (IKir) with a different distribution than
Yu-Ping Ma1, Jinjuan Cui, Hui-Juan Hu
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Abstract:
Retinal bipolar cells comprise multiple subtypes that are well known for the diversity of their physiological properties. We investigated the properties and functional roles of the hyperpolarization-activated currents in mammalian retinal bipolar cells using whole cell patch-clamp recording techniques. We report that bipolar cells express inwardly rectifying K+ currents (IKir) in addition to the hyperpolarization-activated cationic currents (Ih) previously reported. Furthermore, these two currents are differentially expressed among different subtypes of bipolar cells. One group of cone bipolar cells in particular displayed mainly IKir. A second group of cone bipolar cells displayed both currents but with a much larger Ih. Rod bipolar cells, on the other hand, showed primarily Ih. Moreover, we showed that IKir and Ih differentially influence the voltage responses of bipolar cells: Ih facilitates and/or accelerates the membrane potential rebound, whereas IKir counteracts or prevents such rebound. The findings of the expression of IKir and the differential expression of Ih and IKir in bipolar cells may provide new insights into an understanding of the physiological properties of bipolar cells.
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