Expression of Connexin36 in Cone Pedicles and OFF-Cone Bipolar Cells of the Mouse Retina

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5598-03.2004
• Publication Date: 2004-03-31T20:47:59Z
• Authors: Andreas Feigenspan; Ulrike Janssen-Bi...; Sheriar Hormuzdi; Hannah Monyer; Joachim Degen; Goran Söhl; Klaus Willecke; Josef Ammermüller; Reto Weiler
• Keywords: Outer plexiform layer; Outer nuclear layer; Inner nuclear layer; Opsin

Transgenic technology, immunocytochemistry, electrophysiology, intracellular injection techniques, and reverse transcription PCR were combined to study the expression of neuronal connexin36 (Cx36) in outer plexiform layer mouse retina. animals expressed either a fusion protein full-length Cx36 with enhanced green fluorescent (EGFP) attached at C terminus or exon 2 was replaced bybeta-galactosidase (beta-gal). In nuclear layer,beta-gal-positive cell bodies, which confined most distal region close limiting membrane, displayed immunoreactivity against S-cone opsin. Cx36-EGFP puncta colocalized cone pedicles, visualized by injection. transcriptase experiments, mRNA never detected samples rods harvested from layer. These results strongly suggest cones but not rods. vertical sections, vitreal part characterized patchy distribution. Immunocytochemistry antibodies neurokinin-3 receptor potassium channel HCN4 (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel) clusters label on dendrites OFF-cone bipolar cells. horizontal these appeared as round oval-shaped groups individual puncta, they always aligned base pedicles. Double-labeling experiments single-cell ruled out cells rod At light microscopic resolution, we found association AMPA-type glutamate subunit GluR1 GluR2-GluR4, kainate GluR5, metabotropic mGluR6.