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Functional significance of localization of the Na channel in retinal A2 amacrine cells

Research Project

Project/Area Number 15500289
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Neurophysiology and muscle physiology
Research InstitutionSaitama Medical School

Principal Investigator

WATANABE Shu-ichi  Saitama Medical School, Physiology, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (60138120)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) TAMALU Fuminobu  Saitama Medical School, Physiology, Research Associate, 医学部, 助手 (70337541)
ARITA Kazue  Saitama Medical School, Physiology, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (80212645)
NAKAHIRA Kansuke  Saitama Medical School, Physiology, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (10260043)
KANEKO Yuko  Saitama Medical School, Physiology, Research Associate, 医学部, 助手 (60342771)
Project Period (FY) 2003 – 2005
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2005)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥2,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000)
Keywordsretina / AII amacrine cell / action potential / voltage-dependent Na channel / messenger RNA / glutamate / localization / parvalbumin / paravalbumin / アマクリン細胞 / イオンチャネル / 視覚 / 神経回路網 / 杆体経路 / パッチクランプ法 / 免疫組織化学
Research Abstract

Retinal AII amacrine cells transmit light information from rod bipolar cells to cone bipolar cells. It has been reported that AII amacrine cells generate action potentials of 10-20 mV in amplitude. In the present research, we elucidated (1)detailed properties of action potentials generated in the AII amacrine cell, (2)localization of the Na current within the AII amacrine cell, and (3)localization of Nav subunit within the retina. We obtained following results.
(1)(by Tamalu & Watanabe) Frequency of the action potential was 1)decreased depending on the concentration of glutamate locally applied to the dendrite of the rod bipolar cells, 2)increased depending on the concentration of glutamate locally applied to the arboreal dendrites of the AII amacrine cell, 3)increased depending on the intensity of injected current into the soma.
(2)(by Tamalu) TTX locally applied to the lobular appendage and soma most strongly inhibited the Na current compared to the application to the arboreal dendrite. Therefore, Nav may distribute mainly around the lobular appendage where voltage-dependent Ca channels are mostly localized. Also we found that activation voltage of the Ca current coincides with voltage range of the action potential.
(3)(by Kaneko, Arita & Nakahira) In situ hybridization (ISH) experiments revealed that Nav 1.1 were localized in cells that had the soma on the border between the inner nuclear layer and inner plexiform layer. Double staining of antibodies against parvalbumin (a marker of the AII amacrine cell) and ISH showed that Nav 1.1 expressing cells were parvalbumin-immunopositive cells.
In conclusion we found that (1)intensity of the light is coded by frequency of the action potential, that (2)Nav subtype expressed in the AII amacrine cell is Nav 1.1, that (3)Nav are localized around the output synapse, and that (4)the action potential is generated around the output synapse and facilitates activation of voltage-dependent Ca channels.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2005 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2004 Annual Research Report
  • 2003 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (2 results)

All Other

All Publications (2 results)

  • [Publications] Tamalu F, Nakahira K, Watanabe S-I: "Role of signal in signal processing of retinal AII amacrine cells"Japanese Journal of Physiology. Supplement(in press). (2004)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Arita K, Nakahira K, Watanabe S-I: "Voltage-dependent Na^+ channel immunoreactive processes in the inner plexiform layer of the retina"Japanese Journal of Physiology. Supplement(in press). (2004)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2003-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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