Differential targeting of optical neuromodulators to ganglion cell soma and dendrites allows dynamic control of center-surround antagonism.

Abstract

Retinal degenerative diseases cause photoreceptor loss and often result in remodeling and deafferentation of the inner retina. Fortunately, ganglion cell morphology appears to remain intact long after photoreceptors and distal retinal circuitry have degenerated. We have introduced the optical neuromodulators channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and halorhodopsin (NpHR) differentially into the soma and dendrites of ganglion cells to recreate antagonistic center-surround receptive field interactions. We then reestablished the physiological receptive field dimensions of primate parafoveal ganglion cells by convolving Gaussian-blurred versions of the visual scene at the appropriate wavelength for each neuromodulator with the Gaussians inherent in the soma and dendrites. These Gaussian-modified ganglion cells responded with physiologically relevant antagonistic receptive field components and encoded edges with parafoveal resolution. This approach bypasses the degenerated areas of the distal retina and could provide a first step in restoring sight to individuals suffering from retinal disease.

• Authors: Kenneth P Greenberg, Aaron Pham, Frank S Werblin
• Journal: Neuron (Neuron) Vol. 69 Issue 4 Pg. 713-20 (Feb 24 2011) ISSN: 1097-4199 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21338881 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Ankyrins
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
• Halorhodopsins
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Neurotransmitter Agents
• enhanced green fluorescent protein
• postsynaptic density proteins
• Green Fluorescent Proteins
• Rhodopsin

Topics

• Action Potentials (drug effects, genetics)
• Animals
• Ankyrins (metabolism)
• Dendrites (drug effects, metabolism)
• Electric Stimulation (methods)
• Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects, physiology, radiation effects)
• Gene Transfer Techniques
• Green Fluorescent Proteins (genetics)
• Halorhodopsins (genetics, metabolism)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (metabolism)
• Neurotransmitter Agents (genetics, metabolism)
• Photic Stimulation (methods)
• Rabbits
• Retina (cytology)
• Retinal Ganglion Cells (cytology, drug effects)
• Rhodopsin (genetics, metabolism)