title: Calcium currents and calcium signaling in rod bipolar cells of rat retinal slices.
abstract: Combined electrophysiological and imaging techniques were used to study calcium currents (ICa) and their sites of origin at rod bipolar cells in rat retinal slices. We report here for the first time the successful whole-cell patch-clamp recording from presynaptic boutons that were compared with somatic recordings. TTX-resistant inward currents were elicited in response to depolarization. The kinetic and pharmacological properties of ICa were very similar for recordings obtained from the soma and the presynaptic terminals. ICa activated maximally between -30 and -20 mV was enhanced by Bay K 8644 and was blocked by isradipine and nifedipine. Peak amplitude and time to peak were -31.3 +/- 1.2 pA and 3.2 +/- 0.2 msec with somatic recordings (n = 54), whereas the corresponding values were -31.6 +/- 6.1 pA and 3.2 +/- 0.7 msec in recordings obtained directly from terminals (n = 6). ICa showed little inactivation during sustained depolarizations. No T-type ICa was observed with depolarizations from -90 mV. Concomitant with Ca2+ entry, depolarization induced the appearance of transient outward currents that resembled IPSCs and were blocked by GABA and glycine receptor antagonists, suggesting that they arise from activation of amacrine feedback synapses. Upon depolarization, intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) rises were restricted to the presynaptic terminals with no somatic or axonal changes and were linearly dependent on pulse duration when using a low-affinity Ca2+ indicator. In cone bipolar cells, ICa inactivated markedly, and [Ca2+]i rises occurred in the axon, as well as in the presynaptic terminals.
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Zelluläre Neurobiologie, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, 37070 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Llano
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018684:Glycine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017275:Isradipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018684:Glycine Agents; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C068457:3-aminopropyl(methyl)phosphinic acid; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D013331:Strychnine; D002118:Calcium; D001640:Bicuculline; D017275:Isradipine