Document Type
Article
Journal Title
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Publication Date
Winter 12-12-2012
Volume
32
Abstract
Following synaptic vesicle exocytosis, neurons retrieve the fused membrane by a process of endocytosis to provide a supply of vesicles for subsequent release and maintain the presynaptic active zone. Rod and cone photoreceptors use a specialized structure called the synaptic ribbon that enables them to sustain high rates of neurotransmitter release. They must also employ mechanisms of synaptic vesicle endocytosis capable of keeping up with release. While much is known about endocytosis at another retinal ribbon synapse, that of the goldfish Mb1 bipolar cell, less is known about endocytosis in photoreceptors. We used capacitance recording techniques to measure vesicle membrane fusion and retrieval in photoreceptors from salamander retinal slices. We found that application of brief depolarizing steps (<100 >ms) to cones evoked exocytosis followed by rapid endocytosis with a time constant ∼250 ms. In some cases, the capacitance trace overshot the baseline, indicating excess endocytosis. Calcium had no effect on the time constant, but enhanced excess endocytosis resulting in a faster rate of membrane retrieval. Surprisingly, endocytosis was unaffected by blockers of dynamin, suggesting that cone endocytosis is dynamin independent. This contrasts with synaptic vesicle endocytosis in rods, which was inhibited by the dynamin inhibitor dynasore and GTPγS introduced through the patch pipette, suggesting that the two photoreceptor types employ distinct pathways for vesicle retrieval. The fast kinetics of synaptic vesicle endocytosis in photoreceptors likely enables these cells to maintain a high rate of transmitter release, allowing them to faithfully signal changes in illumination to second-order neurons.
MeSH Headings
Animals, Endocytosis, Female, Male, Organ Culture Techniques, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells, Synaptic Vesicles, Urodela
DOI Link
ISSN
1529-2401
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Van Hook, Matthew J. and Thoreson, Wallace B., "Rapid synaptic vesicle endocytosis in cone photoreceptors of salamander retina." (2012). Journal Articles: Ophthalmology. 61.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/com_eye_articles/61