Spatially patterned gradients of synaptic connectivity are established early in the developing retina

Susana Cohen-Cory

doi:10.1186/jbiol76

Abstract

Retinal neurons receive input from other cells via synapses and the position of these synapses on the neurons reflects the retinal regions from which information is received. A new study in Neural Development establishes that the spatial distribution of excitatory synaptic inputs emerges at the onset of synapse formation rather than as a result of changes during neuronal reorganisation.

Highlights

The organized laminated structure of the vertebrate retina (Figure 1a) provides an excellent model in which to study how synaptic circuits are established during development and to what extent intrinsic versus extrinsic signals contribute to this process
In a recent article in Neural Development, Morgan et al [1] investigate the developmental mechanisms by which excitatory synaptic inputs become distributed across retinal neurons so that reliable visual information can be transferred to the brain
Synaptic circuits in the retina transform visual information that is collected by photoreceptors into electrical and chemical signals, which are transferred to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the output neurons of the retina

Summary

Introduction

The organized laminated structure of the vertebrate retina (Figure 1a) provides an excellent model in which to study how synaptic circuits are established during development and to what extent intrinsic versus extrinsic signals contribute to this process. In a recent article in Neural Development, Morgan et al [1] investigate the developmental mechanisms by which excitatory synaptic inputs become distributed across retinal neurons so that reliable visual information can be transferred to the brain.

Results

Conclusion