Hemichannel-Mediated Inhibition in the Outer Retina

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1060101
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:52:41Z
• Authors: Maarten Kamermans; Iris Fahrenfort; Konrad Schultz; Ulrike Janssen-Bi...; Trijntje Sjoerdsma; Reto Weiler
• Keywords: Lateral inhibition; Negative feedback; Cortical Spreading Depression

An essential feature of the first synapse in retina is a negative feedback pathway from horizontal cells to cones. Here we show that at this synapse, connexin26 forms hemichannels on cell dendrites near glutamate release site Blocking these hyperpolarizes cells, modulates Ca 2+ channels cones, and abolishes all feedback-mediated responses. We propose mechanism which activity subsequent cones are modulated by current through hemichannels. Because depends polarization their output