A color-coding amacrine cell may provide a blue-off signal in a mammalian retina

Nat Neurosci. 2012 May 27;15(7):954-6. doi: 10.1038/nn.3128.

Abstract

Retinal amacrine cells are thought to lack chromatic or color-selective light responses and have only a minor role in color processing. We found that a type of mammalian (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) amacrine cell selectively carries a blue-On signal, which is received from a blue or short wavelength-sensitive (S) cone On bipolar cell. This glycinergic inhibitory S-cone amacrine cell is ideally placed for driving blue-Off responses in downstream ganglion cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Amacrine Cells / physiology*
  • Amacrine Cells / ultrastructure
  • Animals
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Optic Nerve / physiology*
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / physiology
  • Retina / ultrastructure
  • Sciuridae
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Synaptic Potentials / physiology*