Document Type
Article
Journal Title
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Publication Date
Winter 1-30-2013
Volume
33
Abstract
Vesicle release from rod photoreceptors is regulated by Ca(2+) entry through L-type channels located near synaptic ribbons. We characterized sites and kinetics of vesicle release in salamander rods by using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to visualize fusion of individual synaptic vesicles. A small number of vesicles were loaded by brief incubation with FM1-43 or a dextran-conjugated, pH-sensitive form of rhodamine, pHrodo. Labeled organelles matched the diffraction-limited size of fluorescent microspheres and disappeared rapidly during stimulation. Consistent with fusion, depolarization-evoked vesicle disappearance paralleled electrophysiological release kinetics and was blocked by inhibiting Ca(2+) influx. Rods maintained tonic release at resting membrane potentials near those in darkness, causing depletion of membrane-associated vesicles unless Ca(2+) entry was inhibited. This depletion of release sites implies that sustained release may be rate limited by vesicle delivery. During depolarizing stimulation, newly appearing vesicles approached the membrane at ∼800 nm/s, where they paused for ∼60 ms before fusion. With fusion, vesicles advanced ∼18 nm closer to the membrane. Release events were concentrated near ribbons, but lengthy depolarization also triggered release from more distant non-ribbon sites. Consistent with greater contributions from non-ribbon sites during lengthier depolarization, damaging the ribbon by fluorophore-assisted laser inactivation (FALI) of Ribeye caused only weak inhibition of exocytotic capacitance increases evoked by 200-ms depolarizing test steps, whereas FALI more strongly inhibited capacitance increases evoked by 25 ms steps. Amplifying release by use of non-ribbon sites when rods are depolarized in darkness may improve detection of decrements in release when they hyperpolarize to light.
MeSH Headings
Animals, Electric Capacitance, Female, Male, Presynaptic Terminals, Retina, Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells, Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells, Synapses, 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
Chen, Minghui; Van Hook, Matthew J.; Zenisek, David; and Thoreson, Wallace B., "Properties of ribbon and non-ribbon release from rod photoreceptors revealed by visualizing individual synaptic vesicles." (2013). Journal Articles: Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience. 48.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/com_pen_articles/48