Genetic Elimination of Rod/cone Coupling Reveals the Contribution of the Secondary Rod Pathway to the Retinal Output

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2022 Apr 1

PMID 35363529

Authors

Nange Jin

Lian-Ming Tian

Iris Fahrenfort

Zhijing Zhang

Friso Postma

David L Paul

Stephen C Massey

Christophe P Ribelayga

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In the retina, signals originating from rod and cone photoreceptors can reach retinal ganglion cells (RGCs)-the output neurons-through different pathways. However, little is known about the exact sensitivities and operating ranges of these pathways. Previously, we created rod- or cone-specific knockout (KO) mouse lines. Both lines are deficient in rod/cone electrical coupling and therefore provide a way to selectively remove the secondary rod pathway. We measured the threshold of the primary rod pathway in RGCs of wild-type mice. Under pharmacological blockade of the primary rod pathway, the threshold was elevated. This secondary component was removed in the KOs to unmask the threshold of the third rod pathway, still below cone threshold. In turn, the cone threshold was estimated by several independent methods. Our work defines the functionality of the secondary rod pathway and describes an additive contribution of the different pathways to the retinal output.

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