title: Intensity-dependent, rapid activation of presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptors at a central synapse.
abstract: Synaptic signals from retinal bipolar cells were monitored by measuring EPSCs in ganglion cells voltage-clamped at -70 mV. Spontaneous EPSCs were strongly suppressed by l-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (AP-4), an agonist at group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Agonists of group I or II mGluRs were ineffective. AP-4 also suppressed ganglion cell EPSCs evoked by bipolar cell stimulation using potassium puffs, sucrose puffs, or zaps of current (0.5-1 microA). In addition, AP-4 suppressed Off EPSCs evoked by dim-light stimuli. This indicates that group III mGluRs mediate a direct suppression of bipolar cell transmitter release. An mGluR antagonist, (RS)-alpha-cyclopropyl-4-phosphonophenylyglycine (CPPG), blocked the action of AP-4. When bipolar cells were weakly stimulated, AP-4 produced a large suppression of the EPSC, but CPPG alone had little effect. Conversely, when bipolar cells were strongly stimulated, CPPG produced an enhancement of the EPSC, but AP-4 alone had little effect. This indicates that endogenous feedback regulates bipolar cell transmitter release and that the dynamic range of the presynaptic metabotropic autoreceptor is similar to that of the postsynaptic ionotropic receptor. Furthermore, the feedback is rapid and intensity-dependent. Hence, concomitant activation of presynaptic and postsynaptic glutamate receptors shapes the responses of ganglion cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Department of Ophthalmology, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Awatramani
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Slaughter
mesh_terms: D000557:Ambystoma; D000613:Aminobutyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008027:Light; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000613:Aminobutyrates; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; C104331:cyclopropyl-4-phosphonophenylglycine; D013395:Sucrose; C012729:2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid; D011188:Potassium; D005998:Glycine