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A noncanonical inhibitory circuit dampens behavioral sensitivity to light.


ABSTRACT: Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) drive diverse, light-evoked behaviors that range from conscious visual perception to subconscious, non-image-forming behaviors. It is thought that RGCs primarily drive these functions through the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. We identified a subset of melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs) in mice that release the inhibitory neurotransmitter ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at non-image-forming brain targets. GABA release from ipRGCs dampened the sensitivity of both the pupillary light reflex and circadian photoentrainment, thereby shifting the dynamic range of these behaviors to higher light levels. Our results identify an inhibitory RGC population in the retina and provide a circuit-level mechanism that contributes to the relative insensitivity of non-image-forming behaviors at low light levels.

SUBMITTER: Sonoda T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7512545 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A noncanonical inhibitory circuit dampens behavioral sensitivity to light.

Sonoda Takuma T   Li Jennifer Y JY   Hayes Nikolas W NW   Chan Jonathan C JC   Okabe Yudai Y   Belin Stephane S   Nawabi Homaira H   Schmidt Tiffany M TM  

Science (New York, N.Y.) 20200501 6490


Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) drive diverse, light-evoked behaviors that range from conscious visual perception to subconscious, non-image-forming behaviors. It is thought that RGCs primarily drive these functions through the release of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. We identified a subset of melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs) in mice that release the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at non-image-forming brain targets. GABA release  ...[more]

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