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Simultaneous Whole-cell Recordings from Photoreceptors and Second-order Neurons in an Amphibian Retinal Slice Preparation
Published on: June 1, 2013
Nonlinearity and noise at the rod-rod bipolar cell synapse
E Brady Trexler1, Alexander R R Casti, Yu Zhang
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA. brady.trexler@mssm.edu
Rod bipolar cells in the retina must suppress noise to detect single-photon responses (SPRs). Rabbit retinal studies reveal significant SPR loss, impacting quantum efficiency and suggesting SNR-dependent efficiency in other species.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Retinal Physiology
- Phototransduction
Background:
- Rod bipolar (RBP) cells in the retina are crucial for detecting visual signals.
- Suppression of noise in rod outer segments and synapses is vital for RBP cells to detect single-photon responses (SPRs).
- The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in rods influences the effectiveness of SPR detection and can lead to loss of valid signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rod-RBP synapse in rabbits, focusing on SPR detection and noise suppression.
- To quantify the loss of SPRs due to noise suppression mechanisms.
- To determine the relationship between rod SNR and RBP quantum efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized suction electrode recordings in rabbit retina to measure rod SPRs and RBP responses.
- Estimated independent SNR values for rabbit rods.
- Analyzed nonlinear transmission and response detection at the rod-RBP synapse.
Main Results:
- Rabbit rod SPRs exhibited low SNRs (2.3 and 2.8), making them difficult to distinguish from noise.
- Nonlinear transmission improved RBP response detection (SNR = 8.7) but resulted in substantial SPR loss, up to 90% for dim flashes.
- Identified two types of noise in RBP traces: low-amplitude rumblings and SPR-like events attributed to rhodopsin thermal isomerizations.
Conclusions:
- The rabbit rod-RBP synapse demonstrates the lowest reported rod SNR and RBP quantum efficiency.
- RBP quantum efficiency appears to be dependent on the SNR within individual rods.
- Species with higher rod SNRs, like primates, may discard fewer photoisomerizations, suggesting greater efficiency.
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