Retinal ganglion cells express a cGMP-gated cation conductance activatable by nitric oxide donors

Neuron. 1994 Jan;12(1):155-65. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(94)90160-0.

Abstract

We have identified a putative cGMP-gated cation conductance in rat retinal ganglion cells. Both in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction amplification detected transcripts in ganglion cells that were highly homologous to the cGMP-gated cation channel expressed in rod photoreceptors. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings detected a current stimulated by cGMP due to activation of nonselective cation channels. This current had a reversal potential near 0 mV, showed some outward rectification, and could be blocked by Cd2+. The current could also be activated by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and the nitric oxide donors sodium nitroprusside and S-nitrosocysteine. We propose that nitric oxide released from an identified subpopulation of amacrine cells may activate this channel to modulate ganglion cell activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / pharmacology
  • 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Base Sequence
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic GMP / pharmacology*
  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cysteine / pharmacology
  • DNA Primers
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Gene Expression*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Ion Channels / biosynthesis
  • Ion Channels / drug effects
  • Ion Channels / physiology*
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology
  • Models, Neurological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nitric Oxide / pharmacology*
  • Nitroprusside / pharmacology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / drug effects
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology*
  • Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism
  • S-Nitrosothiols*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
  • DNA Primers
  • Ion Channels
  • S-Nitrosothiols
  • Nitroprusside
  • 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Nitric Oxide
  • S-nitrosocysteine
  • Cyclic GMP
  • Cysteine
  • 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine