Cellular elements for seeing in the dark: voltage-dependent conductances in cockroach photoreceptors

BMC Neuroscience

Matti Weckström¹  Mikko Vähäsöyrinki¹  Yani Krause¹  Stephan Krause¹  Roman Frolov¹  Esa-Ville Immonen¹  Iikka Salmela¹ 

[1] Department of Physics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

关键词: Photoreceptor;    Sensory neuron;    Potassium channel;   

Others  :  1170587
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2202-13-93

 received in 2012-04-03, accepted in 2012-07-12,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

The importance of voltage-dependent conductances in sensory information processing is well-established in insect photoreceptors. Here we present the characterization of electrical properties in photoreceptors of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana), a nocturnal insect with a visual system adapted for dim light.

Results

Whole-cell patch-clamped photoreceptors had high capacitances and input resistances, indicating large photosensitive rhabdomeres suitable for efficient photon capture and amplification of small photocurrents at low light levels. Two voltage-dependent potassium conductances were found in the photoreceptors: a delayed rectifier type (KDR) and a fast transient inactivating type (KA). Activation of KDR occurred during physiological voltage responses induced by light stimulation, whereas KA was nearly fully inactivated already at the dark resting potential. In addition, hyperpolarization of photoreceptors activated a small-amplitude inward-rectifying (IR) current mediated at least partially by chloride. Computer simulations showed that KDR shapes light responses by opposing the light-induced depolarization and speeding up the membrane time constant, whereas KA and IR have a negligible role in the majority of cells. However, larger KA conductances were found in smaller and rapidly adapting photoreceptors, where KA could have a functional role.

Conclusions

The relative expression of KA and KDR in cockroach photoreceptors was opposite to the previously hypothesized framework for dark-active insects, necessitating further comparative work on the conductances. In general, the varying deployment of stereotypical K⁺ conductances in insect photoreceptors highlights their functional flexibility in neural coding.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Salmela et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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