title: Visual stimulation switches the polarity of excitatory input to starburst amacrine cells.
abstract: Direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) are tuned to motion in one direction. Starburst amacrine cells (SACs) are thought to mediate this direction selectivity through precise anatomical wiring to DSGCs. Nevertheless, we previously found that visual adaptation can reverse DSGCs's directional tuning, overcoming the circuit anatomy. Here we explore the role of SACs in the generation and adaptation of direction selectivity. First, using pharmacogenetics and two-photon calcium imaging, we validate that SACs are necessary for direction selectivity. Next, we demonstrate that exposure to an adaptive stimulus dramatically alters SACs' synaptic inputs. Specifically, after visual adaptation, On-SACs lose their excitatory input during light onset but gain an excitatory input during light offset. Our data suggest that visual stimulation alters the interactions between rod- and cone-mediated inputs that converge on the terminals of On-cone BCs. These results demonstrate how the sensory environment can modify computations performed by anatomically defined neuronal circuits.
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Vlasits
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Morrie
authors.affiliation: Vision Science Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortuny
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Vision Science Graduate Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Flannery
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. Electronic address: mfeller@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Marla B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel. Electronic address: michal.rivlin@weizmann.ac.il.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivlin-Etzion
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D025042:Amacrine Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017630:Connexins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018684:Glycine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010721:Phosphinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018684:Glycine Agents; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D010721:Phosphinic Acids; D011422:Propionates; D011724:Pyridazines; D011725:Pyridines; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D013331:Strychnine; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein; C101879:(1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid; C114785:2-amino-4-phosphono-propinate; C065637:choline transporter; C049853:gabazine