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Calcium Channels at the Photoreceptor Synapse

  • Chapter
Photoreceptors and Calcium

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 514))

Abstract

Presynaptic Ca2+channels mediate early stages of visual information processing in photoreceptors by facilitating the release of neurotransmitter and by receiving modulatory input that alters transmission. Two types of L-type Ca2+channels, composed of a1F and a1D subunits and having similar biophysical and pharmacological properties, appear to form the principle voltage-dependent Ca2+influx pathways in rods and cones, respectively. The role played by these channels in neurotransmitter release at these graded potential, non-spiking synapses, has been well described. The channels mediate sustained glutamate release in darkness where the cells rest at potentials near —40 mV, and signal increases in light intensity as the cells hyperpolarize negative to this value. Synaptic modulation and integration mediated by these channels has not yet been as fully described but appears to involve GABA, nitric oxide (NO), glutamate, and dopamine. Cal’ permeable cyclic nucleotide gated (CNG) channels appear to have supporting roles at the photoreceptor output synapse and may transduce NO signals from other cells by either directly permitting Ca2+influx or by providing depolarizing influences that gate voltage dependent Ca2+channels.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Physiology & Biophysics, Ophthalmology, Dalhousie University,Halifax, Nova, B3H 4H7, Scotia

    Steven Barnes

  2. Departments of Pharmacology and Ophthalmology, Dalhousie University,Halifax, Nova, B3H 4H7, Scotia

    Melanie E. M. Kelly

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  1. Steven Barnes
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  2. Melanie E. M. Kelly
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Moran Eye Center/EIHG, University of Utah Health Science Center, 15 North/ 2030 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112-5330, USA

    Wolfgang Baehr Ph.D.

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Krzysztof Palczewski Ph.D.

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Barnes, S., Kelly, M.E.M. (2002). Calcium Channels at the Photoreceptor Synapse. In: Baehr, W., Palczewski, K. (eds) Photoreceptors and Calcium. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 514. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0121-3_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0121-3_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4933-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0121-3

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