PUBLICATION
Synapse formation is arrested in retinal photoreceptors of the zebrafish nrc mutant
- Authors
- Allwardt, B.A., Lall, A.B., Brockerhoff, S.E., and Dowling, J.E.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-010404-6
- Date
- 2001
- Source
- The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 21(7): 2330-2342 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Allwardt, Brenda, Brockerhoff, Susan, Dowling, John E.
- Keywords
- retina; phororeceptors; ribbon synapses; electroretinography; electron microscopy; mutations; zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Electroretinography
- Microscopy, Electron
- Photic Stimulation
- Photoreceptor Cells/physiology*
- Photoreceptor Cells/ultrastructure
- Retina/physiology*
- Synapses/physiology*
- Zebrafish/physiology*
- PubMed
- 11264308 Full text @ J. Neurosci.
Citation
Allwardt, B.A., Lall, A.B., Brockerhoff, S.E., and Dowling, J.E. (2001) Synapse formation is arrested in retinal photoreceptors of the zebrafish nrc mutant. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 21(7):2330-2342.
Abstract
We describe the effects of a recessive mutation on visual behavior, the electroretinogram (ERG), and photoreceptor structure in zebrafish. At 6 d post-fertilization (dpf), no optokinetic reflex could be elicited in no optokinetic response c (nrc) mutant animals under any test condition. The animals exhibited ERG responses at 5-7 dpf that were markedly abnormal and could be categorized into two groups. The first showed an initial negative a-wave followed by a delayed positive b-wave of small amplitude. Often a second ERG-like response was recorded after the initial b-wave. The second group showed only a large negative a-wave; an initial b-wave was not evident. In most recordings additional oscillatory waves varying in number, amplitude, and time course were observed. Multiple responses at the cessation of long-duration flashes were also observed. Light and electron microscopy revealed that the cone photoreceptor pedicles of nrc fish were highly abnormal. Although the appropriate number of synaptic ribbons formed in these terminals, they "floated" in the terminal, unassociated with postsynaptic processes or arciform densities. The few processes invaginating the nrc pedicles resembled those of horizontal cells. Invaginating bipolar cell processes were rare, but basal contacts were observed on pedicle surfaces. The severity of the mutation did not change between 6 and 8 dpf, showing that there is neither a delay in development nor a degeneration of the terminals; rather, nrc pedicle development appears arrested. Bipolar cell terminals in the inner plexiform layer made normal ribbon synapses; thus, the mutation appears to affect only the outer retina.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping