title: Mouse b-wave mutants.
abstract: The b-wave is a major component of the electroretinogram that reflects the activity of depolarizing bipolar cells (DBCs). The b-wave is used diagnostically to identify patients with defects in DBC signaling or in transmission from photoreceptors to DBCs. In mouse models, an abnormal b-wave has been used to demonstrate a critical role of a particular protein in the release of glutamate from photoreceptor terminals, in establishing the structure of the photoreceptor-to-DBC synapse, in DBC signal transduction, and also in DBC development, survival, or metabolic support. The purpose of this review is to summarize these models and how they have advanced our understanding of outer retinal function.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of Excellence, Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA.
authors.forename: Machelle T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pardue
authors.forename: Neal S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Peachey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000502:physiology; D051245:Retinal Bipolar Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*