title: Characterization of connexin36 gap junctions in the human outer retina.
abstract: Retinal connexins (Cx) form gap junctions (GJ) in key circuits that transmit average or synchronize signals. Expression of Cx36, -45, -50 and -57 have been described in many species but there is still a disconcerting paucity of information regarding the Cx makeup of human retinal GJs. We used well-preserved human postmortem samples to characterize Cx36 GJ constituent circuits of the outer plexiform layer (OPL). Based on their location, morphometric characteristics and co-localizations with outer retinal neuronal markers, we distinguished four populations of Cx36 plaques in the human OPL. Three of these were comprised of loosely scattered Cx36 plaques; the distalmost population 1 formed cone-to-rod GJs, population 2 in the mid-OPL formed cone-to-cone GJs, whereas the proximalmost population 4 likely connected bipolar cell dendrites. The fourth population (population 3) of Cx36 plaques conglomerated beneath cone pedicles and connected dendritic tips of bipolar cells that shared a common presynaptic cone. Overall, we show that the human outer retina displays a diverse cohort of Cx36 GJ that follows the general mammalian scheme and display a great functional diversity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kántor
authors.affiliation: Department of Theory, Wigner Research Center for Physics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, 1121, Hungary.|Semmelweis University School of Ph.D. Studies, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsigmond
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Benkő
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.|Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Énzsöly
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dávid
authors.affiliation: Life Imaging Center, Center for Biological Systems Analysis, Albert-Ludwigs University, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.affiliation: Life Imaging Center, Center for Biological Systems Analysis, Albert-Ludwigs University, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.|BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nitschke
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Emese
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pálfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.|János Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, Ifjúság str. 6, 7624, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orbán
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary.|János Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, Ifjúság str. 6, 7624, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyitrai
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ágoston
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Szél
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ákos
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Lukáts
authors.affiliation: János Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, Ifjúság str. 6, 7624, Pécs, Hungary. volgyi01@gamma.ttk.pte.hu.|MTA-PTE NAP B Retinal Electrical Synapses Research Group, Pécs, 7624, Hungary. volgyi01@gamma.ttk.pte.hu.|Department of Experimental Zoology and Neurobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, 7624, Hungary. volgyi01@gamma.ttk.pte.hu.|Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10016, USA. volgyi01@gamma.ttk.pte.hu.
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Völgyi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064092:Calbindin 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism; D051603:Recoverin / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D051245:Retinal Bipolar Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
chemical_list: D064092:Calbindin 1; D017630:Connexins; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D051603:Recoverin; D000097004:Gap Junction delta-2 Protein; C496731:RCVRN protein, human
keywords: Bipolar cell; Cone; Electrical synapse; Gap junction; Photoreceptor; Rod