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Expression of glycine receptor subunits and gephyrin in single bipolar cells of the rat retina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2009

Ralf Enz  and
Joachim Bormann
Ralf Enz
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany
Joachim Bormann
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, D-60528 Frankfurt, Germany
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Abstract

We studied the expression of glycine receptor (GlyR) subunits and gephyrin in the adult rat retina. Reverse transcribed RNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers designed to recognize GlyR α1, α2, α3, β subunits, and gephyrin. Using RNA isolated from the whole retina, signals for all four GlyR subunits and gephyrin could be observed. In rod bipolar cells, in contrast, we detected a subset of GlyR subunits, α1 and β, and no gephyrin. Patch-clamp recording employing two subtype-specific blockers of the GlyR, picrotoxinin and cyanotriphenylborate (CTB), indicated that the GlyR in rod bipolar cells is a heteromeric protein composed of the α1 and β subunit. Moreover, the absence of detectable amounts of gephyrin mRNA suggests that the anchor protein is not required for the function of GlyRs in rod bipolar cells.

Keywords

Glycine receptor subunitsGephyrinBipolar cellsPolymerase chain reactionPatch clamp
Type
Research Articles
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , May 1995 , pp. 501 - 507
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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