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Synaptic activity, visual experience and the maturation of retinal synaptic circuitry
Author(s) -
Tian Ning
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.159202
Subject(s) - neuroscience , retina , retinal , inner plexiform layer , laminar organization , retinal waves , biology , neurotransmission , synapse , intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells , outer plexiform layer , synaptic pharmacology , ribbon synapse , synaptic fatigue , retinal ganglion cell , synaptic vesicle , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , excitatory postsynaptic potential , receptor , vesicle , genetics , membrane , biochemistry
A fundamental feature of the synaptic organization of retina is the laminar‐specific structure, in which specific types of retinal neurons form highly selective synapses to transfer distinct synaptic signals. In mature vertebrate retina, the dendrites of most retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are narrowly stratified and ramified in specific strata of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of retina to synapse with distinct subtypes of bipolar cells (BCs). However, little is known of how retinal neurons form this laminar‐specific synaptic structure during development. Recent studies showed that the formation of retinal synaptic circuitry is regulated by both gene expression and neuronal activity. Here I will briefly discuss the recent advances in our understanding of how synaptic activity modulates the maturation of RGC synaptic connections.