Glutamatergic Monopolar Interneurons Provide a Novel Pathway of Excitation in the Mouse Retina.

ABSTRACT: Excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the CNS are distinguished by several features, including morphology, transmitter content, and synapse architecture [1]. Such distinctions are exemplified in the vertebrate retina. Retinal bipolar cells are polarized glutamatergic neurons receiving direct photoreceptor input, whereas amacrine cells are usually monopolar inhibitory interneurons with synapses almost exclusively in the inner retina [2]. Bipolar but not amacrine cell synapses have presynaptic ribbon-like structures at their transmitter release sites. We identified a monopolar interneuron in the mouse retina that resembles amacrine cells morphologically but is glutamatergic and, unexpectedly, makes ribbon synapses. These glutamatergic monopolar interneurons (GluMIs) do not receive direct phot

SUBMITTER: Della Santina L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4980212 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature